After week upon week of wind and rain here in the UK, we’re told by the weather forecasters that, for a brief while at least, we’re in for something different: a spell of crisp and cold weather, with night-time frosts, and temperatures first thing in the morning below zero. What a welcome change that will be, but, of course, it means we’ll need to be careful first thing, just in case there’s ice on the roads or pavements. Slipping over, especially as we grow older, could prove not only painful but serious. In life and faith, likewise, we can slip up sometimes, with potentially significant consequences, the ground beneath our feet proving less sure than we’d assumed. Instead of advancing along the way of discipleship, we find ourselves sliding backwards, even falling flat on our face. The following reflective prayer, from my book Heaven Touching Earth, explores that analogy further, asking God to help us keep our feet in the ongoing journey of faith.
The icy path
I tried to keep my feet,
but it was hopeless,
the ground too slippery to gain a hold.
For each step forward I slid back another,
my legs giving way beneath me
as I skidded now this way,
now that,
any progress all but impossible.
Lord, I try to walk the way of Christ,
but I repeatedly slip up,
temptation and weakness causing me to founder
and before I know it I find myself back where I started,
the journey of discipleship more demanding
than I ever imagined.
Guide my footsteps,
that I may tread the path of faith more surely.
And should I slide backwards,
take me by the hand
and lead me forward again.
Amen.