Last weekend I took Jake, our 13 year old son, and four of his 13 year old buddies backpacking down in the Smokey Mountains. We arrived at our spot around 7:30 Friday night. We had a 3 hour hike down the mountain ahead of us. Things got interesting when the sun went down an hour in and it was pitch black with 2 hours to go. Things got even more interesting when with an hour and a half to go to the campsite the skies opened up and the rain fell in torrential sheets.
One young man kept saying, “Mr. Link we missed the turn! We missed the turn!”
Another said repeatedly, “We’re lost, we’re lost!”
A third was quietly crying. His nerves were shot.
But one young man was as peaceful and joyful as can be. While the others were nervous and scared, he was relaxed and confident without a care in the world.
What was the difference?
The difference was the fact that he was walking closest to the son. This peaceful young man was Jake’s tent partner and closest friend amongst the group. He was the one who had spent the most time at our house just hanging around. He has had Jake over to his place multiple times. Compared to the other three, he knew the son very well.
And the son knew the father.
Jake knew that his dad (me) had been a backpacking guide for years. He knew that my experience as a backcountry guide were more than enough to overcome some rain and darkness. Jake trusted without question his dad to see things through.
And the peaceful, joyful young man caught the optimism directly from the son.
Do you see where this is going? The best way to have peace and joy in life – even when it’s dark and rainy – is to walk closely with the son, Jesus. He knows his father’s heart and will implicitly.
The best way to walk in the blessings of the Father is to know his Son. So walk with Jesus my friends.
July 22, 2011 at 5:03 pm |
Psalm: 37
Fret not…..