ask for the ancient paths,
ask where the good way is, and walk in it,
and you will find rest for your souls...
Jeremiah 6:16
Our home church is picturesquely situated at the
base of a desert foothill, which means we’re often blessed with wildlife
sightings including javelinas, desert cottontails, and the occasional coyote.
This particular Monday morning when I was just beginning my left turn into the
parking lot for our weekly Moms in Prayer meeting, a bevy of quail began
darting across my path. These birds can fly, but most often we see them
scurrying on the ground, spindly little legs hustling them from place to place
as fast as they can go. Usually, they follow one another in a neat little line,
like so many obedient school children hurriedly following their teacher.
I hastily hit my brakes so as not to hit the
comical little parade, but what caught my eye was one lone bird, still
cautiously peering across the driveway and choosing not to follow his peers.
Since his buddies narrowly missed being run over, I mentally applauded his
wisdom. Curious to see what would happen after I passed, I stopped far enough
away so I could turn my head and observe. Sure enough, the little guy finally
did cross over but only after he’d ascertained for himself that it was the
right thing to do.
In that moment, the verse in Jeremiah 6:16 I’d
memorized years earlier came to my mind. In these tumultuous times, when there
is so much blind fear, careless vitriol, and rash judgment, may we all, like
that wise little fellow, not blindly follow the crowd, but rather stop and look
and seek the good way—God’s way—and find rest for our souls.
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