Broken Roads – Closing Thoughts

Greetings Dear Reader,

The road is a metaphor in so many ways.  It has so many things to teach us.  We do not always get to choose our destination. We do, however, always choose the road we travel to get there.

It is our obligation to choose the narrow road.  The easy common road is a broken one.  We have a map and a guide.  We have a way to go but we choose broken roads that leave us with pain and damage.

We try to justify our broken road as one that we were forced to use.  We try to justify the new one we are choosing saying that the road will not be broken for us like it is for others.  Somehow we will avoid the dangers and damage.  Even that lie is a broken merge lane to our broken roads.

In following Christ, we find that the road is narrow.  We are not promised that it will be easy but it is whole and unbroken.  The brokenness we see is the result of those who put up bad signage or poor directions. 

I must seek the truth and follow in faith.  I must avoid all the things that lead to broken roads.  I must travel with all my heart the road home.

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

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Broken Roads – Rough Terrain

Greetings Dear Reader,

Even when following with all your heart the road will have rough terrain.  There will be times when the journey is hard.  Rough terrain is not the same thing as a broken road. 

Rough terrain teaches us if we let it.  It teaches us to trust as we follow.  It instructs us in wisdom and endurance.  Sometimes the rough terrain requires that we move more slowly and be more observant of our footing. 

We must travel the rough terrain without turning it into a broken road.  We must understand and live the difference.  It is in this that we show wisdom.  It is in this that we find the necessity of faith.

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

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Broken Roads - Beliefs

Greetings Dear Reader,

Everyone believes in something.  Even not believing in God is believing that there is no God.  Whether we like it or not we live by faith.  My thought here is not to tell anyone what to believe but to see what beliefs lead down a broken road.

The first thought I have on this is that any belief that teaches us to hate is a broken road.  It really is indefensible to hate.  It is also not true that disagreement is hatred.  One can believe that something or someone is wrong and not hate the person who believes differently.

Unbelief is never a reason to reject anyone.  Any belief that teaches us not to love those with whom we disagree is also a broken road.  When we do not love even those who hate us we walk a broken road.  Any belief that leads to hatred is broken.

As a Christ follower I am forbidden to use my beliefs for hatred of any kind.  I am forbidden to dismiss others because of their beliefs.  I am to see their need and love them.  I am to have compassion for the sake of love not to change their beliefs.  Any belief that sets me above anyone else is part of the broken road.

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

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Broken Roads – Possessions

Greetings Dear Reader,

We pursue things with such fervor.  We grasp and hold and hoard.  We sacrifice things that matter for things that are temporary.  We trade life for stuff that does not satisfy.

Seeking possessions becomes a broken road so very quickly.  During the end of the last century people idolized things with phrases like “He who dies with the most toys wins.”  When we worship things the road beneath us crumbles quickly.

A year ago I cut what I own by over half.  I still have more to leave behind.  I have things I treasure but am working to not obsess over things.  My Son made the observation to my Grandsons, “Grandpa likes to collect things.”  It was more eye opening than he realized.

Nothing material will follow me to the end of the trail.  Shed of all the things that do not matter I will enter the clearing having traveled either lightly or burdened.  The broken road of possessions also weighs down the traveler. 

The Things We Leave Behind – Michael Card

There sits Simon, so foolishly wise

Proudly he's tending his nets

Then Jesus calls and the boats drift away

And all that he owns he forgets

But more than the nets, he abandoned that day

He found that his pride was soon drifting away

And it's hard to imagine the freedom we find

From the things we leave behind

Matthew was mindful of taking the tax

And pressing the people to pay

Hearing the call, he responded in faith

And followed the light and the way

And leaving the people so puzzled he found

The greed in his heart was no longer around and

And it's hard to imagine the freedom we find

From the things we leave behind

Every heart needs to be set free

From possessions that hold it so tight

'Cause freedom's not found in the things that we own

It's the power to do what is right

With Jesus, our only possession

And giving becomes our delight

And we can't imagine the freedom we find

From the things we leave behind

We show a love for the world in our lives

By worshiping goods we possess

Jesus has laid all our treasures aside

And love God above all the rest

'Cause when we say no, to the things of the world

We open our hearts to the love of the Lord and

It's hard to imagine the freedom we find

From the things we leave behind

And when we say no, to the things of the world

We open our hearts to the love of the Lord and

It's hard to imagine the freedom we find

From the things we leave behind

Oh, and it's hard to imagine the freedom we find

From the things we leave behind

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

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Broken Roads – Bleeding Feet

Greetings Dear Reader,

Recently I spent a number of days walking all day.  On the second to last day my feet got wet due to a short rainstorm.  By the end of the day I had a very large blister on one foot and a blood blister on the other.  I also had another day of walking to do.   

By the end of that day’s walking the large blister had burst and the blood blister had swollen.  Walking was difficult.  The socks I had on needed to be discarded.  Thanks to my Daughter, my Brother, and my Sister-In-Law I got the care I needed for them to heal.

It reminded me of a time when I had another injury and the response from those who were supposed to care for me was to chide me for getting hurt.  It became about the delay I was causing and the cost of my care instead of my broken bones. 

One of the dangers of broken roads is that we take damage as we travel.  It is the responsibility of fellow travelers to care for each other.  It is my obligation not to shoot the wounded.  It is my duty to help them up, walk with them, and help tend to their hurts where I can.

The damage others take is the opportunity to show love and compassion.   Instead too many of those who claim to follow see the damage in others as the opportunity to judge and condemn.   Condemnation of others is such a broken road.  It is marked with injury and harm.  It is in the pain that we can see the we are all on the same journey.  If we go down the broken road of judgment, then we do more damage to ourselves and others.

When others suffer it is my place to avoid the broken road and take the narrow one.  I must take the narrow road of love and kindness.  When we care for each other the travel is so much easier.  The road is so much smoother. We can avoid the broken road of judgment and tend to the bleeding feet of the weary.  It will provide great joy in this journey.

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

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Broken Roads – Substantial Abuse

Greetings Dear Reader,

First let me be clear that I do not believe that alcohol is wrong.  I realize that since Jesus turned water into wine some of his followers have been trying to turn it back to water.  There is even a provision in the Law of Moses for using God’s funds to buy wine or strong drink.

That said, it is the abuse of alcohol and others substances that is a very broken road.  I come from a history of alcohol abuse.  In times of great pain and sorrow there is a siren call to dive into a bottle and numb the world. 

I have seen how much it can destroy people.  The road that seems so smooth at first becomes filled with disaster.  The brain becomes dependent.  There are so few off ramps on this constantly crumbling highway.   There is help but it cannot be forced or coerced. 

I fight the call by being rigid about my consumption.  I do not allow this to be my courage or refuge.  That is really where the road breaks.  The false courage or unsafe refuge lies and makes us think we can handle it.  Instead it winds its way into us until it owns us.

The only place I should find my refuge is in Christ.  In following him, even if one is already on this road, a better road can be found.  There is truth in wine but there are also lies. 

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

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Broken Roads - Opening Thoughts

Greetings Dear Reader,

Recently I was driving down one of the busier streets in our town.  The pavement is cracked and ruddy from heat and cold and harsh conditions.  When I reached the intersection where the road crosses a large motorway the pavement changed.  The feel of fresh pristine blacktop under my tires was amazing.  The sound was less, the ride smooth, and wish was that it never end.

When I was much younger I had the same experience on a motorcycle over 145 miles of newly opened interstate.  I can still feel the smoothness of that ride.  The beauty of the stars in my solitary night ride held the feeling of drifting through the air unfettered by anything.  The memory of that unbroken road is the standard by which I measure all roads riding or driving. 

We take so many roads.  Some are rough and hard.  Occasionally there is one that is easy and light.  Too often we choose broken roads when we are called to take the narrow one where the burden is light.  We choose roads where there is guaranteed pain and sorrow.  We choose the ones where the sings warn us:  Turn Back, Road Closed, or Danger.

We convince ourselves that we have a tough four wheeled drive vehicle.  We arrogantly believe that we can travel the road unharmed.  We lie to ourselves that we can travel the broken roads in the world.  Jesus made it clear that the way is narrow.  I have discussed that Jesus makes it clear also that he is the way, the truth, and the life. 

I see so many that I love traveling broken roads.  The pains that we self-inflict to hide other pains become the treacherous roads that destroy our ability to travel.  The journey does not have to be this way.  As I travel I need to think through the roads that look like a challenge but are really a temptation to detour to destruction. 

Ride with me a bit as we look at the road and its place in the journey.  As always Dear Reader your questions and thoughts are welcome.  Oh and don’t forget to look for the beauty along the way.  There is plenty.

Someone Worth Dying For – MIKESCHAIR

You might be the wife,

Waiting up at night

You might be the man,

Struggling to provide

Feeling like it's hopeless

Maybe you're the son

Who chose a broken road

Maybe you're the girl

Thinking you'll end up alone

Praying God can you hear me?

Oh, God are you listening?

Am I more than flesh and bone?

Am I really something beautiful?

Yeah, I want to believe,

I want to believe that

I'm not just some wandering soul

That you don't see and you don't know

Yeah, I want to believe,

Jesus help me believe

That I am someone worth dying for

I know you've heard the truth

That God has set you free

But you think you're the one

That grace could never reach

So you just keep asking,

Oh, what everybody's asking

Am I more than flesh and bone?

Am I really something beautiful?

Yeah, I want to believe,

I want to believe that

I'm not just some wandering soul

That you don't see and you don't know

Yeah, I want to believe,

Jesus help me believe

That I am someone worth dying for

You're worth it, you can't earn it

Yeah, the cross has proven,

That you're sacred and blameless.

Your life has purpose!

You are more than flesh and bone

Can't you see your something beautiful

Yeah, you gotta believe, you gotta believe

He wants you to see,

He wants you to see that

You're not just some wandering soul

That can't be seen and can't be known

You gotta believe, you gotta believe

That you are someone worth dying for

You're someone worth dying for

Someone worth dying for

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

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