Journey

Follow Me And You'll Never Be Lost

"Follow me and you'll never be lost," He told me.

"But how do I know?" I asked.

"Many of your brothers and sisters have asked the same," He replied. "Some have reached their destination and others have not. It is your choice to follow, mine to lead."

I shrugged my shoulders and we continued down the small trail leading into the forest. "I could follow this path easy enough on my own," I mused. We continued on in silence until I asked Him, "Why are you helping me? You know I have nothing to give you."

"I lead whoever will follow," He said. "I ask only for trust."

I couldn't understand Him. Why did He want nothing for his labors? Surely He could lead a comfortable life, charging for His knowledge and accumulating great wealth.

"My purpose is not to live comfortably," He said, as if He had sensed my thoughts. "I am only to lead others."

As we walked on, the trail became less defined. After only a few hours it had disappeared completely and we were now making our way through overgrown brush and vines. "How do you know which way to go?" I asked in curiosity.

"I have traveled this route many times before; once for myself, and many times for your fellow beings here on earth, for some more than once."

"And you never get lost?"

"I know my way."

Again I wondered at this Man's knowledge. To me every tree was the same; every step was just as the last. But He knew. He knew every tree, flower, and vine. He took every step in confidence and knew my destination perfectly.

"Do all who follow you arrive in the same place?" I asked Him.

"Some are of one mind, others another; but their journeys all end in the right place."

"Where is this destination?"

"Do you not know?"

I had thought I knew, but both my uncertainty and my curiosity were increasing. I shook my head.

"It is the destination of all those who follow me; the treasure for which many seek, but only the faithful find."

"And am I faithful?"

"That is for you to determine."

We walked on; two people, One knowing His direction, the other hoping for the trueness of an unseen path.

When dusk fell we made camp. As I lay beneath the stars, I pondered on all I had heard and seen in only the first day of my journey. My mind was filled with questions. "Can I really trust Him?" "Should I follow His path, or make my own?" "What will my New Home look like, feel like?" "When will I reach the end of my journey?" "Do I even know where I want to go?"

The next morning I woke to the singing of birds and the smell of breakfast. He offered me some bacon on a piece of bread. I accepted it gratefully and soon we were on our way.

"How long will the journey take?" I asked Him.

"That depends on how long you make it," He replied. This did not satisfy me. I wanted to know how much longer I would have to climb through overgrown flora.

"But how far are we?" I asked in frustration.

"We are as far as you are," He said. Then, sensing my annoyance, added, "The closer you follow, the closer you become."

<<<<<<<<<<<<<0>>>>>>>>>>>>>

I listened to the voices of the animals surrounding us on every side as I pondered His words. If I left His path, I could see all the animals and flowering plants. I could climb the trees and swing from vines. I could be free.