THE PATH

I am writing a daily blog (Monday to Friday)  on preparing spiritually and physically

to lead a Pilgrimage of 100 miles in September.

for details of the Pilgrimage, click on the dropdown Cotswold Pilgrimage bar at the top of this page 

I followed a path that day.

In pale, golden, dew-drenched morning. Following where it went.

The path led me on, beckoned me.

Took me between beautiful old buildings, stretched out enticingly, looked so easy to walk.

Undulated gently at my feet.

I walked.

Walked enjoying walking, filled with the sense of purpose and pleasure, pleased to stride on in freedom and rhythm.

Then –  the path twisted. Hid what was around the corner. Took off uphill.

Barred the way with a stile to climb.

Narrowed.

I followed.

Climbed.

Onwards and upwards.

Then

The sign pointed down

down across the field.

The path was but a footprint of previous walkers

a mark in the grasses

wet with dew

hard to follow.

And it seemed to end at the far trees, looming and dark and unknown because unseen.

But still the sign pointed me on.

In trepidation I followed, trusting the sign and its pointing finger.

IS this is the way to go?

Straight on.

And so through the leaves, sunlight, dappled on the path, illuminating the way, joyful in my heart.

Leading my feet to the rough staircase

up through the woods

on to my home.

Thank you Lord

For the pathway I tread -

marked out by You

pointed by Your finger.

Sometimes it’s liberating and free and easy.

Sometimes it winds and twists. All but disappears.

Goes uphill and threatens to overcome me

with its foreboding and unknown.

But You walk this Way before me

beside me

behind me.

My Signpost

Guide

Protector

Pacesetter

Friend and companion along the Way

Oh let me see your Footsteps and in them plant mine own.

The Lord says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you. “       Psalm 32:8 (NLT)

ON A ROLL

PREPARING FOR A PILGRIMAGE    WEEK ONE: DAY THREE

I’m on a roll. 

And it’s not the roll you were possibly expecting.

I am rolling my way upon the Lord.

This year, I am reading through the entire Bible – it’s not the first time I have ever done this but thanks to a friend’s recommendation I am doing so using George Guthrie’s “Reader’s Guide to the Bible: Chronological Reading Plan.” And it's on my Kindle so I read it anywhere, any time, as well as my regular 'first thing in the morning evangelical upbringing Quiet Time.'

Previously I have tried the Cambridge Daily Reading Bible, which was great because it gave a reading from both of the Testaments – and actually takes two years.

Less of a hurry, more time to ponder.

I’ve started that twice.  Not sure I ever quite finished on either time.

Then I used the NLT iWorship Bible which goes straight through from Genesis to Revelation in a year.  By August when I was still on the Old Testament I was longing, really longing for the New Testament!  I found it moderately tedious if I am honest, in spite of the wonderful daily reflections printed alongside and the worship-thoughts inserted regularly.

So now I am using a chronological reading method – and so far, am loving it.  Interspersing Job with Genesis to remind us Job was in the time of the Patriarchs; reading David’s story alongside the Psalms he wrote at the time; and seeing it all as God’s Plan for His people, mapped out on a time-line.

Act One: God’s Plan for All People

Act Two: God’s Covenant People

Act Three: God’s New-Covenant People.

So I’m on a roll.

Yesterday, I read Psalm 37.

Commit your way to the Lord;
trust in him and he will do this: he will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn, your vindication like the noonday sun.

And every day, alongside the Bible, I read a daily thought from Amy Carmichael – one of my most favourite spiritual writers. Today, it’s from Psalm 37 in Kay’s translation:

Roll thy way upon the Lord.

She writes:

Way means a trodden path, the journey of life, today’s life. Often when we cannot lift a thing we can roll it and so the Hebrew uses this simple word which we can so easily understand.  Roll everything that concerns thee upon the Lord. Roll it again, no matter how many times you did so before, and then rest, “assure thyself in Him; and He, He Himself, will work.” (French Version, Darby)

I am preparing for a Pilgrimage.

I am on a roll.

CAN YOU DO THIS?

  Can you do this? Can you walk with me?

He sets his face that way, resolutely begins to walk.

The road ahead of him is straight and narrow.

As is mine.

I walked along the Fosse Way this morning.

Song of birds

Azure skies

Bees and primroses

Blossom and cut grass

As I walk his voice calls.

Can you do this? Can you walk with me?

Yes, if it's blossom and beauty all the way.

Then Jesus told them Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you... put your trust in the light while you have it so you may become children of light (John 12:35)

Yes Lord.  I can walk like this with you.

Hand-in-hand with you.

Yes, he said.  You can.

But when it's hard when it's difficult when it's dry - what then?

Can you walk with me in those tough times?

As he approached Jerusalem he wept over it. If you, even you, had only known ..the days will come ... they will encircle you and hem you in on every side.  (Luke 19: 41)

Yes Lord.  That's how it feels sometimes. How it often feels these past months.

Tears and sorrows

Hard and dry days

But you understand that Lord don't you? You know what it's like to walk in sorrow.

You knew the worst lay ahead.

Because the Sovereign Lord helps me, I will not be disgraced.

Therefore I have set my face like a stone, determined to do his will. (Isaiah 50:7)

You were resolute set determined.

Called by your Father to walk this way, determined to do his will.

Maybe you saw spring as you walked.

Maybe there was beauty all around.

But you knew.  You knew.

Can I walk with you?

So often I ask for you to walk with me.

But maybe that's the wrong way round.

I CAN walk with you: MAY I?

May I know that privilege, hear your voice calling as you walk:

Come walk with me.

Let him who walks in the dark who has no light trust in the name of the Lord and rely on his God. (Isaiah 50:10)