BCS The Path

Crashing through brush with machete

This path is rough! I’ve been trying to go on a hike but I keep running into all sorts of obstacles.

Can’t see where I’m going, brush is in my way. I stepped in some Stinging Nettle, I’m pretty sure I ran into some Poison Oak back there, and wow these Prickly Pear cactus have some monster needles on them.

Hi Everyone, I’m Doug Hurley, husband of the great scientist Mrs. Hurley. I love to go outside. Eagle Scout, Scout leader, Yosemite, hiking and backpacking. John Muir: "Keep close to Nature's heart... and break clear away, once in awhile, and climb a mountain or spend a week in the woods. Wash your spirit clean.”

During this time of being in front of a computer a lot you might find a chance to go outside

Proverbs 3:5–6 NIV

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.

Proverbs says that because living your life is like walking a long a path. In fact, the NT word for “life” and “path” is the same. We’re outside today to talk about the path of life.

Come on! Let’s go check out some other paths.

Path up hill (jogging, sweating, breathing hard): This is a tough path! This path gets my heart rate pumping, and makes me swear. Sometimes in life the path is going to be uphill and it’s going to be hard. We might have a fight with a friend and say something we wish we didn’t. We get mad at our parents and don’t agree on something. The path can take a lot of energy and focus to get up the hill.

Path through flat, pretty area (strolling): This path because it’s beautiful and peaceful. This path helps me calm down and enjoy. Life can be great when we slow down a bit and look around and see what is around us. Being thankful for what we have and not focusing on what we don’t have. Remembering to be a friend to others. Those are enjoyable times where we can feel refreshed along the path of life.

Path by Tree (sitting, contemplating): Sometimes the path leads us to new and exciting places. Sometimes our path in life is a great adventure. We don’t always know where the path is headed and that can be a little scary but also exciting. You never know what God has in store for you. You might end up in a new place you’ve never been before and see some amazing sites. And even if our path is sometimes unknown, we can know God is always with us.

Path downhill (running, fun): Life is sometimes a lot of fun! The path is easy and we fly down it no problems. Friendships are great, family is great, school is great. It’s all great!

Fork in the path (confused): There may be tough decisions we have to make, and we don’t always know the right way. Life is confusing and we have a lot of choices before us especially as we’re growing into adulthood. Some people may say “hey go this way” or “come with me down this path.” It can be hard to know which way to go. These are the times when it’s important to have a trusted friend or older adult who we know wants what is best for us to help us make good decisions.

Path to the cross (don’t show cross yet?): The best path in life is the path of following Jesus. As we’ve seen on this journey together today, we see it’s not always an easy way. I’ve hacked through brush, tackled steep hills, been faced with different directions and been confused on which way to go. I’ve gone slow, fast. I’ve had some fun times and some contemplative times. It’s been a great journey. Walking on a path is a lot like living a life. There are ups and downs, easy and hard times.

Proverbs says to “Trust in the Lord” and to not lean on just what we know and understand. For me that means having friends to take on the journey that want to follow Christ also. It means to allow scripture to be my guide if I face tough choices, it means to serve this world and not just myself. Trust that God’s way is the right way.

(widen out to cross?) If we can Trust God, his promise is that our path can be clear--that we’ll know the way to go even if life is sometimes hard and the path isn’t flat and pretty and easy. His path is the way of Jesus, the way of self sacrifice. The Christian life is not the easiest path—he promises that. But if we persevere, what a view!

Thanks for taking this journey with me today. I think while I’m up here I’ll take a few selfies . . .