Good Good Father

I absolutely love this image, and even more so the message. It's not a particularly great photo. Not manicured or detailed, but what it represents is priceless.

This image depicts perfectly for me what it feels like to follow Jesus. A childlike faith walking behind my Father without a care in the world. Quiet assurance that whatever I face He goes before me. Joyfully oblivious to what lies ahead, in my own little world of exploration, but never more than a few steps behind. Learning how to walk by watching my Father's steps, knowing that He is fully aware of me, my surrounds, and where I am at all times. Speaking wisdom from ahead He peacefully guides me into my future, one that I can both fully trust and joyfully look forward to.

However, like this child, not every step is steady. I hesitate, shake, cry out, throw tantrums, and stumble. Knees scraped, bloody hands, sore head, all because I lost sight of my Father and His teachings. The decision may not be a conscious one, but all it takes is a step to the right or left and I have lost sight. I've gone ahead and can no longer hear Him. All the while He is quietly calling out, hoping and praying that she will return to the security of His influence.

Don't get me wrong, this is years in the making. Do I always get it wrong? Do I always want to follow? No. Life is nuanced; situations, people and feelings have many layers. the believer's journey fluctuates between walking side by side, following, 'leading' and being carried.

But like any good Father, He allows his child to take herself off the path, wonder under His watchful eye, building her own dreams and making her own mistakes. She grows bigger and the stumbles hurt more. Carrying a backpack of life's adventures, and some painful memories, maybe too ashamed to admit her mistakes, she may hide herself in the shadows.

All the while her Father continues the journey alongside her, speaking wisdom to her soul, waiting patiently for her to return to the closeness of conversation. No panic in His voice. No shame in His demeanour. No failure to defend. Just the unconditional love of a Father for the joy of companionship with his daughter, and the knowing of her immense value before her feet even touched the ground!

'Bold faith sits on the shoulders of quiet trust' Bill Johnson