Finishing Well

     Today people went to the altar during a song, a rather uncommon thing. One of them was a Pastor, and the sight of it made me weep. I don't know why those folks were there except that Holy Spirit God met them and placed them there. I don't know why it made me weep except that Holy Spirit God melted my heart.      There's an old song, The Altar, that says "that's what this altar is for, you don't have to carry those burdens anymore." I don't know why more of us aren't moved to go to that place of unburdening - that place of deliverance - that place of seeking peace - that place of surrender.      We're told to not stifle the Holy Spirit. How many times do we do that when we harden our hearts or see no need for that place?      Move among us please God - set us ablaze with wonder, Your wonder and majesty that still stirs and changes things. Praise and thanks to the God who knows and cares and gives us the power to go, the power to chang

     Why does it often feel like we're the only one going a certain way and everyone else is going a different way? Maybe because they are?      Walking the Christian walk is just plain not like the world - we know that - but the narrow way sometimes is not only a tight squeeze but also very lonely.      Lonely like, where are those I love, like the one who tripped and fell when the road split? Where's the one who's so far behind we can't see them anymore?      It's hard - when their road looks so fun and they seem so happy.      It's long - when the way is straight up steep and it's hard to breathe in the climb - but yet.....we can't go back.      The thing about this narrow way is that no matter how steep or treacherous or lonely or hard, Jesus is still right there beside us. Whether He holds our hand or picks us up or even pushes us! He is there. He is here. He is the end of this road we call life.