Out Our Way: Breaking Trail - John 14:1-6

    Out our way, we sometimes find that it is necessary to break new trails. I recall after an especially wet spring, Charlie and I were riding on old familiar trail when we discovered the creek had overflowed from the spring run off and the whole basin was deep in thick mud. The cattle we were looking for were on the other side of the quagmire, so we simply had to seek another route. Charley understood and led the way up, cutting a new trail up over the steep ridge beside us that would get us past the “swamp.” Granted, going up the steep incline was not easy — to get up that incline, Doc had to make a series of jolting hops and jumps that slammed me around in the saddle something fierce. I was nearly tossed out of the saddle more than a few times, lost my stirrups twice, had to grab the horn and keep the reins loose even when Doc stumbled and threatened to fall backward and roll over me — but we made it. Up and over.

The new way is not always the comfortable way, but sometimes it is the only way, and if you trust your guide, you follow no matter how hard and terrifying the new trail may seem. Charlie knew what he was doing and, despite my anxiety, I trusted him and followed. You see, I had ridden with Charlie enough to trust his judgment and savvy, and that is how I managed to get up and over the ridge and around the morass below.

The disciples had been with Jesus for a time and had started to trust him even when He seemed to be breaking new trail. Many of the dominant religion leaders of the day were more focused on power and control than on God, and while Jesus regularly went to the synagogue and the Temple to worship, He often broke new trail. For example, He welcomed sinners who might be open to repentance instead of merely condemning them. He chose “blue collar” and “unimportant” followers for His disciples and later His apostles instead of focusing on the rich, important and cultural elite. He even allowed women to be part of His following. In short, unlike the status-conscious elites who claimed to be the true holy ones of Israel, Jesus cared about everyone. His “new trail” which did not challenge the Faith of Israel — only the self-righteousness of many of its leaders — earned Him the hatred of those who embraced the swamp and rejoiced in the bog they themselves had created.

Jesus said “follow me,” and while He taught and preached in both the synagogues and the Temple, His primary sermons were in His living. His message was “Follow me.” The old trail had been overwhelmed with the overflow of filth, mud and debris, so He broke a new trail and went around the mire of self-righteous religion.

To be honest, I don’t always care for the “new trail.” Like Charlie’s, the “new trail” of Christ can be uncomfortable, scary and hard. Climbing that ridge on Doc as he jumped, and leaped and tossed me about was not as easy as the old trail. Then there was the fact I was often out of control and flopping around like a rag doll — not exactly the “cool cowboy” image I sought to exhibit.

Following Christ leaves me helpless and less than the “cool Christian” I try to pretend I am. Like “Doc” — who has four left feet — I stumble, lose my footing, and am often a total klutz. But maybe that is why Christ made me a pastor. St Francis was once asked why God used him, “You are not good-looking, you are short, and not at all impressive, ” said his friend. “That’s just it, ” Francis replied, “If God can use me, He can use anybody.”

Old trails can become swamps when corrupted by the filth of power, prestige, self righteousness, etc. The Church is created by God but run by sinners like me who mess things up and let the sewage of human arrogance and self-worship get away from them. Christ gives us a new trail to ride around it but still get where we are going. But the new trail can be hard, uncomfortable and risky. Some folks will just stay on the old trail, complain about the sewage blocking their way — but do nothing about it. Others will follow the Master and take a new trail, no matter how hard it seems. “I am the way. Follow me, or stay there and live with the filth.” 

Be blessed and be a blessing!

Brother John Bruington