Proverbs 15:19
Do
you know some folks who always have an excuse for everything? Maybe they have
really bad luck, but often they are just lazy. They get in the habit of
avoiding any movement at all by complaining about the difficulties they
encounter along the way. First there was this problem, then this other problem
popped up. They never have a clear path.
And
then there are other people traveling the same road, but they seem to avoid all
the pitfalls. They sail right along. They get so much more accomplished. They
become successful.
Are
thorns really able to hold someone back, keeping them from continuing their
journey? Can’t you push your way through them? You may get some scratches in
the process, pain that accompanies the journey, but in the end, thorns can’t
prevent you from continuing. You could also go around, perhaps taking a detour,
expending a little more energy and time, but still arrive at your destination.
If
you really want to get somewhere, you can find a way. Being familiar with the
military, I know how to do Land Navigation. You are given a series of points on
a map, given a compass and map protractor and told to find all the points,
write down the specific ID for each point, and return to the starting place in
a specific timeframe.
Here
in Georgia, land navigation can be especially difficult. This time of year the
thorns are full grown, the swamps still have water in them, and it is HOT. It
can be easy to see the points on the map and get discouraged as you pull
yourself out of another tangle. And all the while the clock continues to tick.
Every soldier in the military must learn how to do this. It is one of the most
basic soldier skills.
The
best way to find the points is not to take a straight line between each one,
but rather to find the points on the map and then use the roads to get as close
to possible to those points before entering the think woods. You avoid many of
the difficulties of the journey this way. But it requires thinking and planning
in order for this to work.
Next
time you encounter a few thorns, push through, go around, but continue moving.
It can be almost impossible to get moving once you stop. Discouragement can
make your feet feel like lead.