Stumbling Stone

I was walking along in the woods of a nearby park. The path was of gravel, and I had been watching my steps with care, but I saw in the distance a sign of historical information. I wanted to go over and read it. I took my eyes off the path before me and looked towards the sign eager to see what it said. In just a very brief moment, like maybe one step taken with my eyes off the path ahead of me I stumbled on a larger stone, rolled my ankle, and fell to the ground. The sting of pain ran up my leg, but having experienced previous injuries like this, I knew I would be okay.

I sat for a short moment, rubbed the ankle just enough to help my body understand that it was okay and then got up and walked to a nearby picnic table and sat down. There, I moved my ankle about ridding it of the initial sting of pain. I then went on over to the sign, read the information, and then turned to make my way back to my campsite. 

On my way, I passed the stone that had tripped me up. With second thoughts of that stone, I turned back and bent to pick it up. I don't know why. It just seemed somehow to be a little message for me. I carried my stumbling stone back to the camper and set it at my writing table. It's a very plain stone. It has no unique markings or color. It's actually quite drab. I know, because I'm very prone to picking up attractive stones and taking them home to place around my gardens. I'm a rock collector. 

The stone has many scrape and scuff marks across its surface as if I was not the first person to trip over it. I wonder about its history and its story. How many times has it been run over by vehicles? How many other wanderers have tripped over it? How many animals have sniffed at it and inspected it? How many times have ants, spiders, or other insects traveled over or hidden under it? Perhaps, children have even picked it up and tossed it around, only to be reprimanded by parents to not throw stones. 

And then, I thought about how that stone could easily represent the stumbling stones of life. Those things that take my eyes off my course with God, how others experience the same distractions as me. I'm human. It's human nature to veer off course and go exploring my own paths. Paths that have me walking away from, or at least, not beside God. I go in pursuit of my own interests and try to satisfy my own will, rather than that of God's will for my life. 

I'm not the first, nor am I the last who experiences this. There is a certain level of comfort in reading about those Israelites of the Old Testament. Their cycles of following God and falling away, and then returning to their Lord gives me hope. Hope and gladness that while, I may have periods in life where I wander off course, God always has a way of drawing me back to Him. I return to seek His will for my life, once again. 

This cycle occurs because I take my eyes off the path God has set before me. And, let's face it, sometimes I don't quite understand the direction life is going so I make choices without praying first. I trip, fall, scrape the knees of my spirit and gradually become worn down with my own efforts to correct my stance. My efforts; they are less than weak and feeble. I end up spending much of my time sitting and rubbing at wounds that don't fully heal. 

Through it all, though, God continues to extend His hand of mercy. He loves me enough to allow me to go my own way and do my own thing. He waits patiently for my return. I have to come to the end of myself. I have to willingly return to the Lord, seek His will once again, and turn my eyes, again, to the path God has set before me. I have to ask, "God, what do You want?" And then, I have to listen. Listen and walk and live each day with God in the lead. 

And so, we walk; the Lord and I, side by side. We walk.