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."
"And 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.
Ecclesiastics 3:1,4
Back to Story Index