Follow in the Footsteps

I was hiking yesterday off-trail through a foot of snow. Without any snow-shoes or skis, my feet were sinking a foot down with every step. It was hard work, but I was enjoying it.

I hiked through the woods for an hour, making my own trail, and I was thinking about how much labor it is to   blaze new trails and to go places no one else has gone before.

After about an hour, I was getting very tired and I met up with some footprints leading to the way out. I began to think about how much easier it was to follow in the footsteps of those who have gone before you. I began to be grateful for the great men in history who cared about future generations. I began to be thankful for the older generation alive now, who care about raising up the younger ones, and creating a floor for the next generation to walk on and go higher than they did.

Even though there are times where God has us go and blaze new trails, His design is for us to grow on what the fathers before us have built, and to father those who will come after us. Sometimes, we must blaze new trails, but we must always be mindful of those who will follow behind.