Footprints with a twist
Imagine you and the Lord Jesus are walking down the road
together.
For much of the way, the Lord's footprints go along steadily,
consistently,
rarely varying the pace.
But your footprints 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 Jesus', are now walking precisely in His
steps.
Inside His larger footprints are your smaller ones, safely you
and Jesus
are
becoming one.
This goes on for many miles, but gradually you
notice
another
change.
The
footprints inside the large footprints seem to grow larger.
Eventually
they
disappear altogether.
There is only one set of footprints; they
have
become
one.
This goes on for a long time, but suddenly the second set of
footprints
is back.
This time it seems even worse! Zigzags all over the
place.
Stops....Starts....Deep gashes in the sand. A veritable mess of
prints.
You
are amazed and shocked.
Your dream ends.
Now you pray: "Lord, I understand the first scene with
zigzags and
fits.
I was a new Christian; I was just learning.
But you walked
on
through the storm and helped me learn to walk with you."
"That is correct."
"... and when the smaller footprints were inside of Yours, I
was
actually learning to walk in Your steps; followed you very
closely."
"Very good. You have understood everything so far."
"... when the smaller footprints grew and filled in Yours, I
suppose
that I was becoming like you in every way."
"Precisely."
"So, Lord, was there a regression or something?
The
footprints
separated, and this time it was worse than at first."
There is a pause as the Lord answers with a smile in his voice.
"You didn't know? That was when we danced."
To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose
under heaven:
A time to weep, a time to laugh; A time to mourn, and a time to
dance.
Ecclesiastes 3:1,4