Imagine you and the Lord Jesus are walking
down the road together. For much of the way, the
Lord's footprints go along steadily, consistently,
rarely varying the pace. But your footprints are a
disorganized stream of zigzags, starts, stops,
turnarounds, circles, departures and returns.
For much of the way, it seems to go like this, but
gradually your footprints come more in line with the
Lord's, soon paralleling His consistently. You and
Jesus are walking as true friends! This seems perfect,
but then an interesting thing happens:
Your footprints, that once etched the sand next to
Jesus', are now walking precisely in His steps. Inside
His larger footprints are your smaller ones, safely
you and Jesus are becoming one. This goes on for many
miles, but gradually you notice another change.
The footprints inside the large footprints seem to
grow larger. Eventually they disappear altogether.
There is only one set of footprints; they have become
one.
This goes on for a long time, but suddenly the
second set of footprints is back. This time it seems
even worse! Zigzags all over the place. Stops.
Starts. Deep gashes in the sand. A veritable
mess of prints. You are amazed and shocked. Your dream
ends.
Now you pray: "Lord, I understand the first scene with
zigzags and fits. I was a new Christian; I was just
learning. But you walked on through the storm and
helped me learn to walk with you."
"That is correct", the Lord replied.
"When the smaller footprints were inside of Yours, I
was
actually learning to walk in Your steps; followed you
very closely."
"Very good. You have understood
everything so far."
"... when the smaller footprints
grew and filled in Yours, I suppose that I was
becoming like you in every way."
"Precisely."
"So,
Lord, was there a regression or something? The
footprints separated, and this time it was worse than
at first."
There is a pause as the Lord answers with a
smile in his voice. "You didn't know? That was when we
danced."
To everything there is a season,
a time for every purpose under heaven:
A time to weep, a time to laugh;
A time to mourn, and a time to dance. (Ecclesiastes 3:1-4)
