The Trail

Take a moment and think about a trail.

What comes to mind?  I immediately think of a wooded hiking trail, but when I stop to think about it, that’s only one small facet of the term.  There are a lot of note-worthy trails.  In the United States alone there are trails shrouded in historical tragedy, like the Trail of Tears.  Or trails commemorating pioneering challenges and triumphs, like the Oregon Trail.  Or trails established to display the natural grandeur of our country, like the Appalachian Trail.

And in the state of Indiana, there is a trail of…. Are you ready for this?

Garfields.

Yes, Garfield.  You know, that irascible and nap-loving cartoon creation of Jim Davis.  Apparently Jim Davis was born in Indiana, and in commemoration there are, scattered throughout his home county, a dozen Garfield statues.  The tourism bureau has put together a map so that easily entertained tourists like me can drive along the Trail of Garfields.  Even better: there is a cell phone tour along the way.

This got me thinking about trails.  The fact is our path through life covers a lot of different trails.  There are happy trails, scary trails, sad trails, fun trails, hard trails, easy trails, and yes, even Garfield trails.  Trails can be both exciting and scary, and for the exact same reason; you never know what you might find.  Some trails are clearly marked.  Some trails are so elusive we might wonder if we’ve lost our way completely.  But every trail we travel has one thing in common: We are not the first to travel it.

The very definition of a trail indicates that someone went before us to mark it out.  And the existence of a trail suggests a purpose.  After all, no one puts forth the effort to create a trail to nowhere.

The Trail of Life is no different.  Our trail has both a purpose and a destination; it’s leading us ever closer to God.  God himself marked out our trail, and He knows everything about it.  He knows every twist and turn, every unforeseen adventure, and every peak and valley.  He may allow us to be surprised by the circumstances of life, but He himself is never surprised.  He has walked this trail already.  He created this trail.

Whatever section of life’s trail you may be travelling, know that you are not alone.  The Creator of the universe Himself also created this trail you are walking.  He will guide you through.  He will guide you home.

And a highway shall be there, and it shall be called the Way of Holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it.  It shall belong to those who walk on the way; even if they are fools, they shall not go astray (Isaiah 35:8).