Have you traveled much lately? Although I have stayed within the walls of my home during much of my time over the last several months, I have been doing some serious traveling! You are probably wondering, “Where did you go?” Well, it is somewhat of a long story. I invite you to take a moment and read about my travels.
I started out on a road that was tree lined and quite beautiful. Many birds and squirrels loved the road too and they were quite comfortable with me when I stopped to admire their beauty and nut gathering. Together we felt the soft breeze sweep across our face and the warmth of the sun radiate throughout our entire beings. I traveled a bit further and I reached a bend in the road. I soon realized that I was no longer in the company of any living creature. I was alone. The bend in the road was, Loneliness Road. There wasn’t anything beautiful about it. The sun had hidden behind a cloud and it was dark and cold. I did not know how long this road was, but I was anxious to press on and find the next turn off. I stood silent for a moment, closed my eyes and remembered scripture that always comforts me and reminds me that I am never alone. Joshua 1:9, “Yes, be bold and strong! Banish fear and doubt! For remember, the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” I opened my eyes and I could faintly see a turn in the road up ahead. I was bold. I was strong. I had no doubt. God was with me. The turn up ahead was attainable.
I made it to the turn and the road was a funny road. It went this way and that and I found myself almost dizzy from trying to navigate it. I soon realized I was on, Humor Road. While on this road, I was surprised to meet up with a few old friends. We traveled together for a very long while on Humor Road. We laughed together, smiled at one another, helped one another, and even participated in some shenanigans. Oh, what fun! Together, we reached a four-way stop. At this stop, each of us took a different road on our travels. As I watched my old friends travel on without me, I realized that God had strategically placed these friends in my travels years ago to help me navigate the here and now of Humor Road. I love these friends! John 15: 12-13, “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”
I looked ahead and did not see a road sign. I pressed on…onto this unmarked road. With each step, my foot was more difficult to lift. I was trudging through muck and mire and my heart was as heavy as my footfall. There were deep potholes and gusts of wind that tried the hardest to push me over. The rains began and I could feel that the elements around me were trying to push me into a place of no return. I was losing ground. I was losing strength. I was losing myself. And then, a rush of adrenaline surged through my body like a bolt of lightning and I picked my tired and worn out self up. I could vaguely see a glimmer of a clearing ahead. I headed towards the clearing. When I reached the clearing at the end of the road, the road sign for the road was twisted, bent, and covered in mud. It had been damaged…forever changed. Both sides of the road sign had been labeled with the name of the road I had just traveled. The only letters I could read on one side were G**** *o*d….God. I flipped the sign around, wiped all the mud away from the letters and realized the road was called, Grief Road. I stood there with the road sign in my hand and I knew and was reminded that God was indeed with me during my entire journey on Grief Road…giving me strength, perseverance, courage, and faith. Psalms 46: 1-3 “God is our refuge and strength, a tested help in times of trouble. And so we need not fear even if the world blows up, and mountains crumble into the sea. Let the oceans roar, let the mountains tremble.”
Grief Road led to a clearing as wide and beautiful as one can imagine. The grass was green and the fragrance from the wildflowers was amazing. The beauty that surrounded me cannot be explained in words. In this vast clearing, there were different areas that I decided to rest in. The area filled with wildflowers was called, Joy. The area with tall prairie grasses waving in the wind was called, Hope. The area where wildlife was scampering was called, Memories. The area where a sunbeam created a rainbow was, Peace. This clearing only has one road leading out of it. All roads lead to this. This road is, Eternity Road.
I am a traveler documenting my travels. I travel everyday because life after all, is a journey. Some roads are filled with wonder and great experiences. Some roads are filled with potholes and mire. However, I know my destination and nothing can stop me from reaching it because I have the One and Only travel guide by my side. John 10: 27-28, “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish, no one will snatch them out of my hand.”
Denise Ludwig
09/08/2020