Hiking Boots in Low Places

Written by Tim Steed

This article is courtesy of HomeLife.

My Christian walk is like a hike through a picturesque cow pasture. It can be both beautiful and messy at the same time. It’s beautiful because I can take time and be amazed at God’s splendor and grace. And it can be messy if I step in what the cows have deposited as lovely parting gifts.

For me, these lovely parting gifts (or cow patties) represent the sin in my life. You know, the habits and rituals that keep me from a more personal walk with Jesus (who, by the way, high-stepped over all the patties while on earth).

Now I know the location of some cow patties in the pasture because, at one point in life, I stepped in them. These are actually called cow chips now because they’ve completely dried out. But I don’t step on a cow chip, nor do I pick them up and fling them across the field like a bovine Frisbee. I just keep my head up and my feet moving.

My earthly purpose is to make it through the cow pasture and, by God’s mercy, end up at the narrow gate that takes me to the real pasture. On my bad days I think that gate might not even be there at all. But I keep going back to the ancient letters that were written by some people who made it through and around the cow patties before me. And these people actually wore sandals on their feet! I guess they know what they’re talking about because they had a lot at stake during their hike. 

One of the ancient letters stated that Jesus said the gate is there, but it’s narrow and few people actually find it. Sometimes on my walk I think I see it, but then, without warning, … squish!

One of the major problems of my Christian walk is forgetting about the hidden cow patties. Like on days when the pasture grass is really green and soft and it’s so wonderfully comfortable I decide to take off my shoes and walk barefoot. And then, squish! It’s up between my ugly toes.

Materialism is a cow patty for me. It seems that sometimes when my prayer life is good and my Bible study is producing enlightenment and I’m serving others in love, I’ll go out and buy something electronic and step right in a patty the size of a VW Beetle. I mean, life would be more comfortable for me if I had that giant flat-screen TV for SEC football action on Saturdays. And what about that vintage Gibson Les Paul electric guitar I’ve been looking at for years?

I always wonder: If I can see the cross that sits on top the narrow gate that teaches and instructs me, then why do I keep stepping in cow patties? I focus on Jesus, but that old habit or ritual is suddenly deposited right in front of me to navigate. Sometimes I think all my cow patty missteps might help with character building in the long run. Sometimes I think it helps so I can tell others in the pasture where cow patties might be located. I’m simply one hiker telling another hiker where you might find that lovely parting gift so you can avoid it.

In our hike through life, let’s clean our feet as quickly as we can, as often as we can, so we can keep our focus on the narrow gate. And don’t forget to go cow tipping every chance you get. The more cows on their backs, the less cow patties we have to navigate. And in my life I need that. That, and a vintage 1960 sunburst Gibson Les Paul.

We’ll talk about the amp later.

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