Two Paths
“Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools suffers harm.” (Proverbs 13:20)
As you journey through the wilderness this Lent, who are your traveling companions? Are you going it alone, meeting folks along the way, or did you set out with someone beside you? Those we choose to accompany us can be help or hindrance. If we have chosen wisely, our companions will cheer us up when our spirits are low and will encourage us to keep on keeping on when we feel like giving up. More importantly, when we begin to lose our way and try to turn off the path, our companions will redirect our steps, keeping us straight and true.
However, if we have chosen poorly, our companions will watch us fall and then walk away with our provisions while we lie there. They will mock us when our spirits are flagging and quickly tell us to turn back or take the wrong turn at Albuquerque.
Those traveling alone might be thinking, “I don’t have to worry about any of that! I don’t have to share my rations. I don’t have to worry about someone else slowing me down or telling bad jokes or making fun of me when I sing off key to break up the boredom. Wait! What boredom? I’m the best company I could ask for!” I offer this piece of wisdom from a “Teacher,” “Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up the other; but woe to one who is alone and falls and does not have another to help…And though one might prevail against another, two will withstand one. A threefold cord is not quickly broken.” (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10, 12) A journey in the wilderness is an opportunity to find out who you are, what you are made of. Your traveling companions can help you on that journey, or hinder you. Choose wisely so that the path you take leads to an empty tomb and a day of rejoicing.
God’s Blessings, Pastor Laura
PS. Ecclesiastes can be rendered as “Preacher” or “Teacher”!
PPS. For those who may be too young to remember, Bugs Bunny often “took the wrong turn at Albuquerque”!