No comparison

Looking up I noticed light creeping through the window edges, the fringes of dawn. As I raised the curtains I smiled at the beginning of a new day. I’m a morning person; I love first light. I’m also a walking, hiking person. Give me a good trail and my cares melt away – at least for a little while.

This morning my husband and I set off on a trail near our home we hadn’t yet discovered. As it opened into a wide vista of pine straw floors and giant trees shading the way, I knew I would want to walk it often. The strong winds rustled the treetops, and as they swayed, they drowned out the sounds of civilization. It was a gift, and I knew who to thank. Jesus is in the details of our lives – and this path, here all this time, was a gift He showed us when we were ready to find it.

When we neared the end, there was a grassy area with boat ramps. Apparently, the far back of a nearby neighborhood. Who knew? Turning back, I thought if this little jewel is near my home, how many amazing places are there on this earth? And I was reminded, I haven’t seen anything yet. Eternity and the trails and hikes of forever I can’t even begin to imagine.

All of us are walking a trail daily. The one from first breath to last sigh. We miss a lot along the way. In our busyness we become focused on the temporary, what is seen. But what if now and then we remembered this verse: “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” (2Corinthians 4:18 BSB)

The verses preceding it are our reality: “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, yet our inner self is being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory that is far beyond comparison.” (2Corinthians 4:16-17 BSB)

When our world comes crashing around us it’s very easy to lose heart. And as we age, we see our bodies not cooperating with us like they used to. But Paul tells us a truth we can cling to – these earthly woes are temporary, the Holy Spirit is renewing us on the inside, and what awaits us has no comparison.

‘Weight of glory’, I had to look that up to see what was meant: “The ‘weight’ suggests something substantial and valuable, far surpassing the fleeting nature of earthly troubles.” Yes, as much as a beautiful trail can calm a heart, the reminder of what is truly valuable is our assurance at all times.