The path we tread is important for our life ahead.
It is necessary for every one of us to examine the path we tread. This exercise is required very often, as we are prone to be lead to tread a different path than the one we ought to because of the influence of evil forces in this world. If we go through the Bible we will see that all those people who had and encounter with the Lord had treaded a different path from that very moment onwards.
After visiting Baby Jesus in the manger, the three wise men returned to their Country by another road (Mat.2:12). The path they tread earlier to reach Bethlehem was through King Herod; which now they realized was not the right path to return. In fact, the Lord had warned them not to go back to Herod. All the disciples of Jesus left their old profession, family and other earthly attachments behind them and followed Jesus blindly. In other words, they have deliberately changed their path.
The life of St. Paul, the greatest among the Evangelists, after his encounter with the Lord is a good example of this transformation. A great miracle took place in the life of Zacchaeus after he met Jesus. His very attitude towards life, his life style itself, and the path he tread thereafter were completely changed, quite contrary to the one he followed hitherto. We read in Mark 10:46-52, that the blind Bartimaeus followed Jesus immediately after he was blessed with sight.
The Samaritan Woman became an Evangelist just immediately after meeting Jesus, unexpectedly, at the well. She went around with great enthusiasm telling people that she met the Messiah (John 4:28:30). Let us also examine ourselves whether we are treading the right path. If we are not, it is time that we come back to the right path so that we will safely reach our actual destination.
We have to change our attitude towards others, our own behavior pattern, actions, attachments, priorities etc. Such an exercise will be highly beneficial for the soul as well as the body. Then, we will be able to experience the presence of the Lord within us and this experience will enable us to always tread the right path and become catalysts to change other lives.
Like Moses who when, pleading with the Lord to accompany him and his people, we should be able to say, “Your presence with us will distinguish us from any other people on earth†(Ex. 33:16). In order to obtain the necessary grace for this let us join the Psalmist and confess: “Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path†(Ps.119:105).
So examine the path you tread. Is it the right one? If not, come…lets change the path we tread.
– – – written by N. A. Thomas, Chennai
