FOOTPRINTS...A New VersionImagine you and the Lord Jesus are walking down the road together. For
much of the way, the Lord's footprints go along steadily, consistently,
rarely varying the pace. But your footprints are a disorganized stream
of zigzags, starts, stops, turnarounds, circles, departures, and returns.
For much of the way, it seems to go like this, but gradually your
footprints come more in line with the Lord's, soon paralleling His
consistently. You and Jesus are walking as true friends!
This seems perfect, but then an interesting thing happens: Your
footprints that once etched the sand next to Jesus' are now walking
precisely in His steps. Inside His larger footprints are your smaller
ones, you and Jesus are becoming one.
This goes on for many miles, but gradually you notice another change.
The footprints inside the large footprints seem to grow larger.
Eventually they disappear altogether. There is only one set of footprints they have
become one.
This goes on for a long time, but suddenly the second set of footprints
is back. This time it seems even worse! Zigzags all over the place.
Stops. Starts. Gashes in the sand. A variable mess of prints. You
are amazed and shocked. Your dream ends.
Now you pray: "Lord, I understand the first scene with zigzags and
fits. I was a new Christian; I was just learning. But you walked on
through the storm and helped me learn to walk with you."
"That is correct."
"... And when the smaller footprints were inside of Yours, I was
actually learning to walk in Your steps; followed you very closely."
"Very good. You have understood everything so far."
"... When the smaller footprints grew and filled in Yours, I suppose
that I was becoming like you in every way."
"Precisely."
"So, Lord, was there a regression or something? The footprints
separated, and this time it was worse than at first."
There is a pause as the Lord answers with a smile in his voice. "You
didn't know? That was when we danced."
To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven:
A time to weep, a time to laugh, A time to mourn, and a time to dance.
Ecclesiastes 3:1,4.