Getting Ahead: ‘On the Beaten Path’

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As a boy on the farm I loved to ride horses. Almost every day following the chores Dad would have lined up for us to do, we would saddle up and head out for the riding trails. These trails would cover a few miles through the fields and wooded areas of our area. It was an adventure and we got to know every inch of those paths.

As a matter of fact the horses even knew the paths so well that you could lay the reins down and they would follow them all of the way home. Every once in awhile, we would add to the adventure and set out off of the beaten path. When we were off the path we would encounter heavy brush that was hard to get through, briars that would prick us and low limbs that would knock you off your horse if you did not pay attention; but it was worth it.

There were times that we would discover wonderful new things to explore. One such time we found a house that had been abandoned. It was so old that there was no road leading to it and it had never had electricity run to it. That was a huge finding for a gang of boys on their horses and it became a regular destination where we pretended that it was a way station where the stage coach stopped.

There are times in our life that everything becomes very familiar. Some might say that we have gotten in a rut much like that beaten path we would trail ride on. People can remain in that very familiar place in life until it becomes their comfort zone.

It can get to the place that there is no need to make an effort to steer our life, we just lay the reins down and ride along to wherever the path leads. But what if that path is not leading us home? What happens when a storm comes along and obstacles fall across and block the path we are following? What wonderful things and new experiences are we missing?

These and other life questions will be addressed Sunday morning as “The Gathering Place Family” meets in the Washington High School library for Bible Study at 9:30 a.m. and in the gymnasium at 10 a.m. for our Pre-Service Connection where we enjoy coffee, juice and donuts. Our Worship Service and Children’s Church then begins at 10:30. Come at 7 p.m. and be part of our Wednesday night Bible Study and Children’s Ministry on the third floor above Trends at 120 West Court St. in Washington C.H.

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By John G. Pfeifer

Religion Columnist

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