There is a special trail in the Cape Breton Highlands National Park in Nova Scotia, Canada called the “Skyline Trail.” It is specifically famous not only for its dramatic headland cliff views, but also for the opportunities to spot moose, whales, birds of prey, and even bears.
Our family has hiked this trail twice. Once in 2003, and again in 2017. The first time we went, we parked along the side of the road. We had to search, but we did eventually find the entrance to the trail, and we were enthralled to see moose on two different occasions. The trail wasn’t very well marked, however, and we often found ourselves off the designated path…
When my husband and I returned to Cape Breton in 2017, our first goal was to hike the Skyline Trail. When we arrived, we couldn’t even recognize it as the same trail. A huge, multi-layered parking lot led up to the very well-marked trail head, and there were already so many cars that we had to park at the bottom of the lot, nearly a kilometer away. The trail itself was wide and outlined in stones, which lead to a wide boardwalk with handrails. There were frequent signs posted to indicate the correct path. There was no way we could get off the trail by mistake this time!
The view was still beautiful, but unfortunately, there was no wildlife…
What happened, you ask?
Well, this is how it is with trails. When few people hike them, they remain narrow, sometimes overgrown, and often difficult to find, but as more people begin hiking these trails, they become wide and smooth. Apparently the Skyline trail had gained so much popularity over the years that the national park had further upgraded the hike in order to accommodate all the tourists!
The Word of God has a few things to say about the size and condition of the paths we walk through life: “The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it.” (Matthew 7:12b-13 NLT)
Why is this gateway to life narrow and this road difficult? For the same reason we had trouble finding—and staying on—the Skyline trail back in 2003! Because “…only a few ever find it.”
Let’s remember, however: it was when the trail was not found by too many people that we saw the most wildlife…
Meanwhile, the highway to hell is broad because it is such a well-trodden path, and the more people who walk there, the wider and broader it becomes. Which is exactly what happened to the Skyline Trail between 2003 and 2017.
I learned to seek the less-trodden trails in Cape Breton National Park, and that lesson applies to our walk through life as well. We don’t find Jesus or hear His voice where there are masses of people. Following the crowds won’t lead us to Him. It is in the quiet places and at the quiet times that we will hear His voice and recognize His presence.
Thinking about this does bring up some nostalgia, however. What if… What if more and more people were to tread the path that leads to life? Remember that when more people trod a trail, it becomes wider and more easily found! And that’s what we want, right? We want people to find their way to the Lord!
But as long as the path to life remains underused, the best thing we can do is to spend our time telling people where to find it. And isn’t that exactly what Jesus asks us to do? “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20 NLT)
Can we make a committed effort to do our part in making sure that path to life gets a little more use? Not only will it be saving lives, but it will be making God, who, “does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.” (2 Peter 3:9b NLT), very, very happy!
In His love,
Lyn
Lynona Gordon Chaffart
Author, Moderator, Answers2Prayer Ministries
