Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.
– Proverbs 3:3 (NIV)
My feet take me places with no destination in mind. The air is crisp and the sky blue. The buildings of downtown jut from the ground into that blue sky, sunlight reflecting off of the windows. People are everywhere—at the square, protesting down the street, playing in the snow, laughing with someone they love, and here I am just walking with no destination in mind. I’m just walking because I have forty-five minutes to waste before I return to work.
I take the muddy way to the market. Granite Creek runs clear over the road, splashing into the creek bed and runs around gentle bends towards the park. I turn right and follow the muddy path with its left over splotches of snow and icy footprints of dogs and humans into the trees away from the busyness. The prints are just traces gone by, like this day.
There are days I hurry the minutes on the clock, eager for it to end, and days I pray that never end. It’s good that God doesn’t answer every prayer. Imagine the confusion as God hears me contradict myself. Does she, or doesn’t she want this day? That’s what He would whisper.
Muddy paths have always been my way. I don’t know any other way. I always take the road I want to take, disregarding the sloppy mud and twisted roots. Following God is my way, and sometimes those paths are quite muddied. They are quite well-worn from foot traffic of others who have gone down this road before me. They who have stumbled over the roots, slipped on the mud, and who have grasped for the hand of the Lord to pick them up. You can see their work in the bridges they have built.
I have built bridges and burned them down. I have been brave and cowardly. I have followed God even when others do not see why I chose this path, but I did choose it. This muddy path I take is hard, but I am building endurance and the scenery is beautiful. I stop and take some photos. My camera captures beauty with an amateur hand. You won’t find Ann Voskamp or Gail McNeeley or even Emily over at “Chatting at The Sky,” in my photos. You will find, however, love. Love of the mud, of the leaves that brown, and the snow that doesn’t melt in the shade. On this crisp, cold day, I walk hand-in-hand with God.
Describe your moments with God.
By Nikole Hahn, Nikki’s Journal
Amy @ themessymiddle says
My favorite line: “Love of the mud.” That just caught my fancy!
Your post reminds me of something I wrote called “The taste of love.” http://wp.me/p1Ut5W-9l … sort of like your love of mud, but not exactly. 🙂
Nikole Hahn says
What would we be without the muddy road, huh?
Today at @incourage “This Muddy Road” « Nikole Hahn's Journal says
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Kristine McGuire says
I love it. Great post, my friend. 😀
Nikole Hahn says
Thanks! :o)
Katie says
Great post my friend! Muddy roads, well I hate them, but they are in my life regardless. And they are good and draw me close to God.
Nikole Hahn says
Trials do that and someday it won’t have to be trials that draw us close to the Holy of Holies.
Liz G says
I always hated trying to get down those roads but next time I’ll think of this! Thx.
Nikole Hahn says
You’re welcome, Liz. Yep, discard the tennies and put on those hiking boots when trials occur.
Colleen says
Most of my closest moments with God are found under a canopy of blue skies or in a cathedral of trees. I feel so close to God in nature. My heart sings along with the song of life all around me, and I know joy deep within.
Nikole Hahn says
Me, too, Colleen.
Jennifer says
“Love of the mud, of the leaves that brown, and the snow that doesn’t melt in the shade.” Such a great reminder that if we walk away at the end of the day without a little mud on our jeans, we may have missed an adventurous opportunity with Jesus. Thank you!
Nikole Hahn says
You’re welcome, Jennifer.
Lisa says
Oh wow. Thank you for sharing. We sometimes don’t know where God is leading us, but along the way He teaches us to TRUST.
Made me think about a canyoneering experience several years ago, which I wrote about here: http://betweenthebigstuff.wordpress.com/2010/03/22/what-i-did-yesterday/
“To see this beauty, and to realize that we are infinitely more beautiful in His eyes is almost unfathomable. He, who took such precious care in forming the tiny wonders inside this scratch on the surface of our planet has used the same foresight in shaping our own lives. We are the pinnacle of His creation. “
Nikole Hahn says
Well said. I’ll have to check your link out. I love the outdoors.
Jennifer says
“Muddy ways” have always been my way too. Though it’s always muddy, it’s still good. 🙂 Great post, Nikole!
Nikole Hahn says
Thanks, Jennifer.
Julie Sunne says
Beautiful, Nikole. That is what we are supposed to do: follow God on the muddied paths, around or perhaps through the potholes, fording the rivers. Wherever He leads. Walking “hand-in-hand with God.”
Nikole Hahn says
And sometimes it feels like quite the river, too. :o) But we get through it by holding onto His lifeline.