Pay attention to the details for a fulfilling life
“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it”.
— Matthew 7:13-14 (NIV)
It’s vacation season again. Several years ago, I took a vacation with my husband to see the mountains in Colorado. I couldn’t wait to see the view from a majestic mountaintop. Since we were both licensed drivers, we decided to take turns driving and make the 16-hour trip straight through.
As Jeff slept in the passenger seat, I turned on the setting for the cruise control and enjoyed driving on the interstate. There were many wide lanes all around me, so the traveling was smooth and easy. I cruised for a couple hours.
However, as we approached the mountains of Colorado, the driving wasn’t so smooth and easy anymore, so I quickly switched places with Jeff who was more experienced at driving on the mountain roads.
The spectacular mountain view I had anticipated, was somewhat skewed by the narrow, mountain passages we traveled. Driving along the curvy twists and turns demanded great concentration.
As I looked at the shoulder of the road, I noticed only a few inches of gravel between the road and the mountain edge it separated. At that moment, I was impressed by my husband’s ability to drive on these narrow mountain passages.
As I looked down, I realized one slip and you could fall. It was quite different than the ease experienced while cruising on the wide highways the interstate had offered.
Jesus mentioned in Matthew 7:13-14 there were two roads in life that we can choose which hold the same contrast as the drive on the narrow mountain passage and the broad highway I experienced.
We can travel the broad road with ease. It doesn’t require much concentration to details and can easily lead us into destruction, because we are not paying attention to the little things that improve our life.
The travelers on the narrow road pay much more attention to the details that really matter in life. They choose Jesus as their Savior, and are prayerful and careful to do the things that will promote and create a good life.
They know cultivating a relationship with God and following key principles, like loving each other, giving, caring for someone else, and treating others with kindness, will get them further in this life than cheating, stealing and being rude.
They also take care of their bodies so they can be healthy and fulfill God’s plan. Financial planning is a part of their daily lives so they don’t spend tomorrow’s prosperity today and find themselves poverty-stricken.
Life’s carefree highway can often be deceiving, because it doesn’t require much discipline. Paying close attention to the needs of others, and the details in our lives, can help us to discover what living the good life is all about.
Ÿ Annettee Budzban is a Christian author, speaker, life coach and nurse. Her Inspirational CD can be purchased by sending $12 to P.O. Box 532 Grayslake, IL 60030 She can be contacted at Annetteebudzban@aol.com.