Old Dog III
Back to: The Rams and the Titans
The Paths
Bob Neumann
The Ancient Paths
Last night I had a strange dream, all along it felt like I had “been there, done that”. Yet it had aspects both surreal and real…. very hard to explain.
I was walking a ‘path’ in the dark. The moon was either just before or just after full moon. There was no other “light” but the path was fairly clear and the trees and brush on the sides were not too thick and progress was simple and easy. After a while I began to move slowly and more quietly with the awareness that I had “entered enemy territory”. At the same time I began to actively search for something, only I was not sure what. Eventually I saw on a very large and old tree an old mark. Evidence that someone long ago had marked or “blazed the trail”. I immediately “re-cut” the original blaze without any thinking, as if I had done it before. Every twenty or so paces I would find another “old marker”. The fact that I recognized them for what they were made it both surreal and intriguing. Every so often on an obviously older tree the ”mark” was there and I re-blazed each quickly.
It was not long till I came to a fork in the path. Here the path was both broad and clearly well traveled. I hesitated wondering whether to turn left or to turn right. For a second or two I thought, why not cut through straight ahead. Then and only then did I hear that “still small voice” quote Jeremiah’s warning to follow the ancient paths. So I stopped and waited hoping for something about “guiding my steps”…only it did not come. After a while the “awareness” that night would end and the ”job” had to get done. So I turned and followed the right fork. Because the path was both wider and easier to follow I was making fast and quiet time.
The only problem was the nagging thought about wide and narrow paths. This path was “wider” and sort of straight…. but was not. My line of sight was never more than 20-30 paces. I felt both relief and a sense of “peace” when the only large tree among the thickets and brush had a ”mark” waiting to be re-blazed. So I moved more quickly. Like I said there was a surreal feel to this.
Every ”half hour” or so I would come to an intersection where a smaller, fainter path joined from my right hand. Only I did not see any paths no matter how old or untraveled moving to the left. I kept watching for ambushes and old trail markers. I found several places where possible ambushes could of been and stayed cautious. Likewise I kept finding markers where I expected to find them. All old and “overgrown”.
All along I had two feelings that were interesting…first was I “knew” what I was doing…knew both what to look for and where to look.
Second the Path was always turning to the left. I was wondering after what seemed like hours where and what was my destination. As the night sky began to fill with “false dawn” light over the horizon to my left I passed another path only to find a tree with a fresh “blaze” and I knew I had “completed the circle”. I had spent almost all the time traveling in a circle. And now as day approached the enemy was again having the advantage. So I backed down the wide path to where a good place of concealment was. It was a place which would be in shadow with only one way in that could be defended.
A place I felt safe in and stopped to rest and wait.
THIS IS WHERE IT ENDED.
Outside of the fact that I have PEACE about all this very little can be said. It was something I “had” to do…. but I am unsure what was accomplished. But the idea that it is not important to know the “little details” is something I can live with. I learned with THE THUNDERS things must progress in HIS TIME and at HIS PACE.
IN MY SPIRIT there are three things clear…. I was on enemy territory…. only at night and in shadow was it safe to move…. I was looking for places of ambush…. that I could use in the future…. boy was that clear.
In spite of “popular thinking”…. I think I am on solid scripture….
selah dog