Skiing on the Right Trail
Ski Bums
Matthew and I scooted on our skis up to the ski lift and pushed our way forward with the poles. The chair came quickly up behind us and scooped us from where we stood. The top of the mountain loomed far ahead like a sleeping giant.
A little over mid-way, I began to doubt my sanity in making the decision to attempt to ski down from the highest elevation of the ski slopes. My stomach began to do summersaults as we steadily ascended the steep slope.
I took off my glove and dug in my jacket pocket for another view of the trail map. I had no intention of getting on a blue or black slope, which was intended for more accomplished skiers. I wanted to be sure that I knew where the green, beginners slope began as soon as I got off the lift.
As we neared the end of the ride, I noticed an orange fence had been placed on the left side of the slopes where the green ski slope was supposed to begin. My heart did a flip-flop as I began to imagine that the green slopes had been closed for some reason and we would be required to ski (or scoot) down one of the steeper slopes.
The lift chair reached the end of the line and dumped us out at the top. I quickly turned to the worker and hollered, "Where does the green slope start?" He pointed to my right and confirmed what the map had told me. I breathed a sigh of relief as we skied around the orange fence to the gentle slope with green signs.
As we skied along, occasionally a black diamond slope would cut perpendicular across our trail as it took advanced skiers quickly down the steep slopes. Some better skiers would veer from the green to take a chance on the black diamond. I tried not to look down as I was petrified at the thought of a possible fall that would send me tumbling down the wrong path.
I pretended to be a mule with blinders on (probably not that far off the mark) as we negotiated the trail, stopping every so often to make sure that we were on the right trail.
Every now and then, a snow mobile would race by with a person snugly wrapped up in a sled pulled behind. These persons had been injured somewhere on the slopes and required medical attention. They would have to be taken down as quickly as possible, wrapped up like a cocoon in order to prevent them from going into shock.
It was a sobering sight to behold as we fought to stay upright. I hesitate to consider what might have happened to us if we had not had a good trail map and if the trails had not been clearly marked all the way down. Getting on the wrong trail as a novice skier could certainly be a disaster.
The same thing could be said for us in our faith walk. We each need the wisdom of scripture, the illumination of the Holy Spirit, the connection with God through prayer, an active worship life, and the counsel of fellow believers as we make our way through life. It's easy to get on a path that is not intended for us to take and in so doing, bring pain and loss to ourselves and others.
David tells us in Psalm 119:33-35: "Teach me your decrees, O LORD; I will keep them to the end. Give me understanding and I will obey your instructions; I will put them into practice with all my heart. Make me walk along the path of your commands, for that is where my happiness is found."
