The Road Less Travelled

 

The Road Less Travelled

^{Matthew 16:24 “}Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.²⁵ For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.”

^{Matthew 7:13 “}Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:¹⁴ Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.”

     My grandpa’s farm by the James River in South Dakota was unique.  Nestled in the foothills of pastureland, its length spanned area sufficient for outlying buildings. A garage, machine shed, summer kitchen, hog shed, chicken coop, and finally a barn.  The immediate run, parallel to the rearward gravel road, was the inner path leading directly from the house to the cattle lot.  It was there it stood. A swinging livestock gate stretching across the lane to keep bovine in their confines by the barn.  What perked my curiosity as a boy was the personnel gate to its connected right side.

     This small double swinging gate with a flip latch was a lifesaver to me.  Being afraid of the cows and their staring eyes, I could slip in and not disturb them as I ventured to the barn.  It was also my quick exit if they crept in too closely thinking I was going to feed them.

     My mental picture goes back to seeing the broad gate and the narrow gate.  The broad gate was for animals following instinct.  The narrow gate was for us using reason and direction.

     “Oh!  Look at those fools!” they say.  Broad path is easy.  It requires little effort and leads to the comfortable feeding trough.  Every day the food falls and muzzles drop into the prepared mixture.  Fat gathers into the muscle and heavy hooves sink deeper into the mud of the lot.  “They don’t know.  Why do they resist?”  Their voices we hear as we choose another way.

     Flipping the latch of the little gate, we gingerly step in with knee high boots donned.  Defecation near the watering tank rises up to reek the stagnant air.  However, a gradual climb to the barn gets us to the high ground where the mud slips off and the walking is easier.  To the barn we slide open the wide door and expose our real work.  The small feed room to the left with shovel stuck in the pile of feed.  Harnessing hardware hangs from the stalls.  Milking bottles of various sorts stored and bags of mix.  We understand quickly our call here is to serve.

     As metaphorical cattle in the lot, they choose the easy way.  Being fattened for slaughter, their noses follow the feed as it drops in front of them.  Wide is that gate and sure is their destruction.

     We help the Farmer by choosing the narrow gate. Our vision is not to see them destroyed but we ease their stay here.  Cattle and other livestock require maintenance.  Upon entering the barn, we have agreed to assist the Farmer.  Inoculations and a daily herding drive the cattle to pasture ensuring health.

    Two gates.  Will we gravitate to the ignorant livestock laughing in ridicule or will we slip on our servant boots and walk the high road circumspectly?  His work has its reward.  Eating with Him, back at the house, after chores, is more than satisfying.