The Walk



Pro 20:6  Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who 

can find? 

Pro 20:7  The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him. 



Found!- A man who can tell you all the wonderful things of which he's capable.

Still Lookin!- The one who will take these words for a walk. 


 	For some reason there is this compelling need within a person to insure they 

are well thought of. The short cut to getting this accomplished is the use of words. By 

letting it be known what a good person he is and all the good things he's planning on 

doing, there may be an immediate positive impression made.  To find someone to 

represent this group of people is not a difficult task, and you could probably get a 

pretty good competition going over it. There is another way of communicating the 

same things that are so quickly accomplished with words, but it is a much longer and 

less traveled path. By actually living all the things that could be spoken and allowing 

others to determine the magnitude of their "goodness" merit, there is a story told 

about what you've done, rather than of what you are capable. 


Several years ago I was doing some work in a part of the world where there 

were a lot of snakes and other ornery creatures, capable of making the day you met 

up with them your last. We were living in a house that looked across a ravine to the 

work site on the other side. The ravine was full of tall grass and brush that was 

excellent cover for any one of these nasty varmints. There wasn't really a trail that 

crossed it, but it was definitely the quickest way to get over to where we needed to be. 

There was a very well maintained road upon which we could walk that was sure to 

get us there safely, but it was so tempting to just take the shorter route. From the 

porch of our house the work area could be clearly seen so close on the other side of 

the ravine, and, especially if we were running a little late, it was worth whatever risk 

to just get there now. We could even beat someone in a car who was driving the other 

route. So we often took this quick route and really put our angels to work clearing the 

way before us. 


Though our angels did their job well, the practice of taking that short cut was
 
not one that could be lived for an extended period of time without one day having to 

deal with one of those varmints. The goal of getting to the other side was always 

safely and surely accomplished, though,  in making the established walk of the road 

around all the danger. 


There is a way to being known as a "good" person. That person is clearly seen

right there on the other side of this dangerous ravine, and there are two ways of 

getting there. There is the righteous walk that takes you step by faithful step to the 

destination with no possibility of mishap. But, there is the other way, going straight 

across and carried only by words. We may arrive quickly this way, but there is such 

risk of losing our reputation altogether on this route. When one of these things 

spoken is shown to be without merit, there will be no trust or value given to any 

words that might be spoken. 

I had a friend when I was growing up who often went water skiing on a nearby

reservoir. His parents owned the boat and skis and they were on the lake most 

weekends in the summer. I remember the first time he told me that he would take 

me skiing with him. I thought to myself how fortunate I was to have such a 

wonderful friend who would do this for me. I wanted to learn to ski so much and here 

I was going to be able to because of the "goodness" of this friend. Weekend after 

weekend would pass, though, and year after year passed until we grew up without 

him ever taking me water skiing. Although he remained my friend, there was a loss of 

credibility in what he spoke. I just waited to see what would actually take place. His 

words were quite empty for me until they were taken for a walk. 


The ability to take the long walk of faithfulness and honesty rather than the
 
short way to glory can be known when there is an assurance of the "goodness" that is 

already ours in Christ. Rather than being enticed by the approval and acceptance that 

may be so clearly seen within the reach of our words, we can take the walk those 

words speak of and arrive safely at our destination. Although we may be tempted to 

follow those who appear to have made it there already, we can be satisfied and 

fulfilled in the walk itself as each step is made with the Holy One of righteousness. 

Already assured of our worth and value in Him, we can let words of praise follow our 

actions rather than precede them. 



Take me to the other side

O walk of faithful stepping

With eyes affixed on Him alone

And goodness ever trailing



4/19/04