Not my picture.
The road was rough.
The sky was darkening as the sun slipped behind the horizon. The tress were growing closer together and growing bigger. The path itself was rocky and began to dip into a dark valley.
I am usually enthralled by the woods, but I felt an uneasiness this time. Maybe because it was dark. Then I tripped on a rock. It was a hard fall right on my face. I lay there for a few minutes, exhausted and more angry than actually hurt. But as I slowly picked myself up, I began to feel the pain in my ribs. I couldn't really see my knees, but they were both wet, and since the ground was dry and dusty, I knew it was blood.
I slowly continued down the hill. Why so dark and desolate? Why so mean? Why did I have to trip?
I let out an angry
Ugh!
It seemed the ground was evening out once again, but now it began to wind all about. Though my eyes were adjusting to the darkness, it was hard to tell where I was going. I walked right into a large tree. I felt so stupid besides just plain old mad. I hammered the tree with my fist before moving on.
I knew I shouldn't be angry, it was my choice to take this route, but I just hadn't expected this. It seemed I always took the worst road.
I kept walking, but I was too angry to pray. Then I tripped again. This time I yelled. "The stupid STUMP!!" Oh, I was not a happy camper. The pain from the original fall came back to me with a blow, and now my toes felt like they just might fall off.
I lay on the ground for a long time.
I began to cool off as a gentle breeze touched my anger-teared face. In sorrow, I told Jesus I was wrong.
Please forgive me, I forget so quickly. He had led me here and I forgot to remember His mercy in my darkness.
The night seemed so dark and long. I decided I might just lay there till morning instead of trying to forge through in the dark. Then I heard footsteps. My heart began to thump so hard against my chest, I thought I could feel it rocking my body.
When I finally had the courage to open my eyes and scan the blackness, I saw it wasn't quite so black. There was a light shining a few yards down the path. It took little time for the feet of a man to stop just a couple feet from my head.
"You're hurt," he stated.
"Uh, yeah. But more just exhausted," I replied. I slowly sat up. In the light of the lantern, I could see the blood on my hands and legs.
Gross, I thought.
He knelt down and placed the lantern on the ground. Then he gently lifted up my chin in his strong hand and looked into my eyes, but I could feel him looking into my heart.
As I peered back into his face, I said, "Hey, I know you, don't I?"
"But you almost forgot me, didn't you?" He didn't bother to answer my question, so I didn't answer his.
"Whats' your name again?" I asked, half expecting another question from him.
He looked more intently into my eyes, piercing my soul. "I am Grace."
Then I wept.
Picture by Lydia.
