The sign screamed, but I closed my ears. Warnings in all red, capital letters excited me.
“STAY ON MARKED TRAIL” isn’t what I want in life.
You want a marked trail? Go find the guidebook, and slide your hand over the glossy pages. The pictures, perfect. The views, majestic. The choices, safe.
Not me. For the first time, risk calls out, and I am open.
Open to new.
Open to choices that make my husband pull back his head, wrinkle his face, and wonder where our friend, Practical, hides.
Open to facts I used to whisper with my head turned down, but now I look you straight on and just state.
Open to big prayers that don’t make sense, but make my breath heavy and my heart quicken.
Open to leaving the marked trail because it’s too ordinary, and it’s too darn crowded, and because beautiful waits just beyond the red lettered warning.
: :
The idea behind this post was to write for five minutes and not worry if it is “just right”. Today a slew of others and I all wrote on the same word, open. Click here to read what open means to them, and thanks for letting me toss out my five minutes to you.
Oh, and along the same lines, I hope you are failing.
Question: When is the last time you left the marked trail? What keeps you living in safe territory?
19 comments:
I really love this post. Surprising ourselves by leaving the practical and being open to the unpredictable ways of God can be so challenging and so beautifully rewarding at the same time.
i believe you said more than you know with the "beautiful waits just beyond the red lettered warning"
red lettered reminds me of the words Christ spoke. and you are right beyond what he said lies great beauty...a life well lived...a life full of adventure- reaching out, with hope. healing for others and yourself...revelation far above what you could have ever understood on your own...there is beauty beyond the red letter...dive in...
great things ahead!
Off the beaten path -- risk and adventure, and blessings beyond belief. Godspeed on your journey.
This has been a sacred echo for me too, this taking risks and leaving the land of the ordinary. Lovely post and I'll go off the trail to adventure with you any day!
This reminds me of the Robert Frost poem the Road Less Taken. It's so easy to follow the path left for us, but how many of us are willing to trudge through the unknown and experience the unexpected. Great post Amy!
take it! take that off the beaten path... then write about it, so the rest of us have the courage to do the same :) here's to new adventure in 2012!
I say, "Yep!" to being open to:
Open to big prayers that don’t make sense! Nothing's to Big for our God!
Blessings :o)
it's so hard, but the only way I will ever know that God will sustain me is by taking a risk and KNOWING He will sustain me. That takes great courage, and I admire your courage to do just that.
Oh! Your words stir inside of me, revealing more and more of His heart to me and my longings for Him.
"...and wonder where our friend, Practical, hides." --> I love that and I know my husband has thought that too with me in recent months. And words said straight and big prayers that make you excited...
Girl..I am excited for you, with you, and I don't even know what this is all about!!
high five a thousand angels.... and you.
love your willingness and "boots on" thinking.
You rock... and I see my sister (Kelly) thinks so too... she has already replied to you and I second everything she said
:)
T
Okay, so this sounds awesome. I want to hear more...
just for the record, i really wish you'd quit bringing up that question. you know the one. the one about whether i've failed lately? it pops its head up, every once in a while. usually toward the end of a post. just. when. i've. managed to forget. its. challenge.
sighhhhhhhhh. :-)
Well done Amy. I am thinking hard and not remembering the last time I strayed from the safety of the trail. Therein is a problem.
I hope you have and your family have a nice New Year.
I was on a hike at Laity lodge, and almost left the trail to make my own shortcut. I had visions of myself lost in the woods on the mountain, with a search party having to find me. I opted for the trail. LOl! Great post!
Kathy
Oh, now I have you wondering about the big risks, yes? Good! Not ready to share, y-e-t.
But I am ready to hear more of your stories of risk taking. Thanks, guys.
Oh, Amy! I find my toes on the edge of the marked trail, ready to take that first step, but fear tugs me back to the trail. Fear of what if I fail...what it people think I'm nuts...if I stay on the trail, I am undetected. Hmmm....just writing these words makes that tug on the trail a little less strong....thank you!
I love this! I love this! I absolutely love this! I've just passed that red letter sign and am beginning to see the beauty beyond.
You Rock this post Amy. Thank you for sharing it.
Happy New Year! Blessings in 2012.
I laughed when I read this, because I am TOTALLY a marked trail, play it safe kind of girl! Maybe one of these days I'll venture off the path a step or two. ;)
What a beautiful post. Filled with bravery and desire to be yourself. Adventurous. Something I need to work on.
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