Prepare Which Way

6 Now John was clothed with camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. 7 He proclaimed, "The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. 8 I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit." (Mark 1:6-8)

John the baptizer - born to his parents in their old age - was raised knowing he was called to be different. Surely everyone who had rejoiced with his barren mother when she told of her pregnancy, and with his father who had been unable to speak from the time of his conception until his birth, had watched expectantly as he grew. He became a man who lived outside of society, yet society came to him. Hoping. People thought that this man who drew them into the water and called them to change must have been the long awaited savior. But John was clear on his purpose - he prepared the hearts and minds of the people to be able to recognize and receive the One who would bathe them in God's Spirit.

We are all preparing the way for something. We are planting seeds with every breath that will sprout a living promenade. Between the path of darkness and the path of light the choice seems easy until we understand the lull of the darkness and discomfort of the light. The darkness seems to offer the comfort of complacency with the comradery of ignorance, while the light provides stark illumination of the ills we'd prefer not to see. The way has been prepared, and we prepare it still, but we can rest assured that the Light who walks with us on the way also meets us where we, alone, can not go.

I'm looking for the coming of Christ I want to be with Jesus When we have run with patience the race We shall know the joy of Jesus

In Him, there is no darkness at all The night and the day are both alike The Lamb is the light of the city of God Shine in my heart, Lord Jesus

- "I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light", Kathleen Thomerson