------------Off The Beaten Path------------
In 1 Samuel chapter 17 we get to look at one of the most
well known stories in the history of the world, and it’s actually one of my
very favorite chapters in the entire Bible. In chapter 17 we see the story of
David and Goliath. Yea, I know, it’s a classic right? Well as this phenomenal
story begins to unfold, we see David following the instructions of his father
to go to the Israelite camp in the Valley of Elah and deliver food rations to
his three older brothers, who were fighting in the battle. When David arrived
in Elah, he became very curious of what was happening with the battle and (to
his eldest brother Eliab’s chagrin) he started asking around the camp about
Goliath. This caught the attention of King Saul’s men and eventually caught the
attention of King Saul himself. As you may know, This eventually led to little,
tiny, miniscule, puny David being sent by King Saul to the battlefield to fight
the large, humongous, massively enormous giant named Goliath. And if you know
the story, then you know that a few minutes after David was sent out to fight
Goliath, the Philistines were running in terror as their warrior lay face down
with a stone in his forehead. This was nothing short of a miracle from God, and
to God be all the glory. However I think there is a key element in the success
of David in this story that ,often times, goes overlooked. David did something
that was quite out of the ordinary here, David ventured off the beaten path.
About a month ago I took the train into Boston for the first time in my life and the
first thing I wanted to do was find the North End and walk The Freedom Trail; which
is a 2.5 mile trail through the city that is full of historic sights from the
American Revolution. After about 30 minutes of getting lost on the streets of downtown,
I finally found a brochure that contained a map of the city and I started to
find my way around the North End. Exploring the Old North End of Boston (and
specifically The Freedom Trail) was
absolutely incredible. See, I am a bit of a history buff, so naturally I was
about as stoked as a chubby kid in a donut shop (I used to be that chubby kid
in the donut shop so I am allowed to say that). To be completely honest, there
were several moments along the way that I recall getting the chills; and don’t
worry, I totally understand if you think I am a nerd. But, It was quite an amazing thought
just knowing that I was standing in the same places and buildings where our
founding fathers laid the cornerstones of our great nation. It was so awesome
to finally see the sights that I have read about in my school history books for
so many years. The Freedom Trail was just an overwhelming experience
altogether.
After
several hours of exploring, my adventure was coming to a close. Just as I was
about to head to the train station to catch the 7:35 back to Leominster where I am living,
something caught my eye. Right before reaching the Old South Meeting House
(Where Ben Franklin was baptized. Also where Phillis Wheatley, the first
African-American author, attended church), there was a sign that hung in the
alley way just off of Washington Street. The sign read “Commonwealth Books and
Old Prints”, and although the voice in my head whispered, “Just stay on the
main road, your train is leaving soon”, my curiosity quickly pushed that notion
out of my head. About two minutes later I found myself stepping into a very
interesting bookstore that brought back the “chubby kid in a donut shop”
sensation that I had been feeling just a few hours prior. Inside the cramped
bookstore, there were literally thousands of books, maps, documents and prints
from generations past. Some of the books and prints were selling for several
hundred dollars and had crazy intrinsic value, which to me, was even greater
than the money value. One incredible piece that I found in the store, was a
state document that had been signed and wax-sealed over two hundred years ago by the founder of
Pennsylvania, William Penn. (I didn’t even want to ask
the shop owner how expensive this item was.) Commonwealth was such a cool little shop full of so much
history. I would say that this store is kind of a hidden treasure that lies just off the beaten path. And I’m not
exactly sure if it was my love for history, or just because it was the only
good book in my price range, but I did cop a nice little biography of George
Washington to complete my nostalgic conquest. Overall it was a very cool
experience that I will not forget.
As
soon as I walked out of the store and looked at the time, I realized there was
absolutely no way that I would make the 7:35 train back to Leominster; Which
meant I would have to wait an extra hour and fifteen minutes for the next one.
Typically, I would have been upset with myself for messing up my own plans, but
this was different. The experience in the bookstore was more than worth the
missing the train because I found a shop full of historical treasures, which I
otherwise would have missed out on. As simple as the bookstore might seem to
most people, it was such an exhilarating experience for me. This ally-way bookstore
put the icing on my “Boston experience” cake (the fat kid is coming out again).
And the key here, was that I had to venture off
the beaten path to have this experience.
I decided to leave the comfort of Washington Street to check out that
little store in the ally, and I ended up missing my train. Yet, I was
surprisingly ok with it and happy about it. This is the same concept that can
be true in our spiritual lives if we
would just take a little risk, maybe a step of faith, and find our way off the beaten path.
Sometimes
we can find the greatest spiritual breakthroughs if we would just take
a chance, venture off the beaten path of
our lives and try something new in our walk with God. Maybe for you, that
simply means attending church more consistently. It might mean spending a bit
more time praying, or spending more time reading you Bible. It could mean
setting aside time to call up an old friend and check on him or her. And I know
this is a tough one, but It might even mean upping the ante on your tithes and
offerings. Whatever off the beaten path
may mean for you, chances are, that it will temporarily inconvenience you and
it might even make you miss your 7:35 train. But when it’s all said and
done, leaving the path will be worth the
risk.
Let
me ask you a question, what if that kid named David, who took rations to his
brothers on the battlefield, had just stuck to the plan and returned home
immediately after dropping off the food? What if David never would have started
asking around about the reward Goliath’s killer would receive? What if David
didn’t let his curiosity get the best of him in this situation? What if David
had stuck with the mapped out plan and not ventured off the beaten path? Chances are, Saul’s men would have never
overheard David’s interest in fighting Goliath. David never would have been
summoned by Saul. And David never would have been sent out by Saul to kill
Goliath. A crazy thought right? Now, I’m sure David did have to change his
schedule a bit for this situation. We know that David had to be away from his
sheep for a few hours longer due to the fact that he was slaying a giant, but
wouldn’t you say that it was worth it? David may have been temporarily
inconvenienced and he may have missed his
7:35 train, but it was worth it. David had one of the greatest physical and
spiritual breakthroughs in the history of his life, and possibly in the history
of the world. It all started with him venturing off the beaten path. And I don’t know about you, but I would much
rather miss my “7:35 train” than miss out on God’s plan for my life.
Peace
Love
God Bless
A
week after I wrote this, I was starting to feel like my idea to come to New England for the summer was maybe just a little too far off the beaten path. I was feeling kind of discouraged and I needed
a refresher, so I decided to head into the city again on my next day off. During
my exploring I found out that the old bookstore in the alley had a sister store;
It was in the basement of the Old South Meeting House. So at the last minute I decided
to go check it out. On my way out of the store, a book caught my eye. The book
was sitting on top of a pile near the exit door. What was the title? Massachusetts: Off the Beaten Path.
Maybe I am reading too much into it, but I have a feeling it was more than just a coincidence.
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Completely inspirational
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