Footprints
(Variation)
Imagine
you and the Lord Jesus walking down the road together. For much of the
way, the Lord's footprints go along steadily, consistently, rarely varying
the pace. But your prints are a disorganized stream of zigzags, starts,
stops, turnarounds, circles, departures and returns. For much of the way
it seems to go like this. But gradually, your footprints come more in line
with the Lord's, soon paralleling His consistently. You and Jesus are
walking as true friends.
This seems perfect,
but then an interesting thing happens: your footprints that once etched
the sand next to the Master's are now walking precisely in His steps.
Inside His larger footprints is the small 'sandprint', safely enclosed.
You and Jesus are becoming one.
This goes on for many
miles. But gradually you notice another change. The footprint inside the
larger footprint seems to grow larger. Eventually it disappears
altogether. There is only one set of footprints. They have become one.
Again, this goes on
for a long time. But then something awful happens. The second set of
footprints is back. And this time it seems even worse. Zigzags all over
the place. Stops. Starts. Deep gashes in the sand. A veritable mess of
prints. You're amazed and shocked. But this is the end of your dream.
Now you speak.
"Lord, I understand the first scene with the zigzags and fits and
starts and so on. I was a new Christian, just learning. But You walked on
through the storm and helped me learn to walk with you."
"That is
correct."
"Yes, and when
the smaller footprints were inside of Yours, I was actually learning to
walk in Your steps. I followed You very closely."
"Very good. You
have understood everything so far."
"Then the
smaller footprints grew and eventually filled in with Yours. I suppose
that I was actually growing so much that I was becoming like you in every
way."
"Precisely."
"But this is my
question. Lord.. Was there a regression or something? The footprints went
back to two, and this time it was worse than the first."
The Lord smiles, then
laughs. "You didn't know?" He says. "That was when we
danced."
-- Author
Unknown
