2:195 – Life If Like The Oregon Trail

#faithbites #faithjourney trail

(This #faithbites idea brought to you by Cecilia Roberts-Lieb)

“You have died of Dysentery.” This simple sentence brings back memories of anyone who played the Oregon Trail computer game in the late 80s/ early 90s. The plot of the game is simple, get from Missouri to Oregon alive. The game is brutal. Most never see the end. A card game remake captures the frustration of the game. From typhoid to measles, from dead live stock to freezing temperatures, crossing rivers to running out of food. These are all calamities you have on the trail. The card game adds a little wrinkle. You write the names of everyone in your party and as you travel, if they die, you cross them off, and make a tombstone. As long as one person makes it to Oregon, you win.

If there was ever a game that captured life, the Oregon Trail is it. Sure most of us don’t die from typhoid or extreme temperatures, but the challenges we face as just as deadly to both our physical, spiritual, and emotional states.

Scripture

• Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few. – Matthew 7:13-14
• Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. – Psalm 23:4
• I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. – John 16:33

Reflection

When we our on our #faithjourney and our life’s trail, we have many choices. Do we take the easy path (the wide gate) or the more challenging road (the narrow gate)? Both gates get us somewhere but is it on God’s path or is it towards the next calamity?

While we may not always know the right path, we know that God is with us. The famous scripture “Though I walk in the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear now evil, for you are with me.” We will face calamities and scripture says we will have tribulations. That our reward will be in the next world. The kicker is,with Jesus, we have nothing to fear. He will lead us where God wants us. We just need to listen.

For those wondering, we actually won the game last night, but not without loss. My eldest passed from Dysentery, my wife from a snake bite, and me from extreme temperatures. Our youngest somehow made it all the way. If that doesn’t capture life, we lose many close to us along the way, I do t know does. But God sees us through.

Charge

What trail are you on? Remember that following Christ will still bring tribulations and trials. But, he will protect us, answer our prayers according to his time, and help us through the calamities. When it looks like the trials are more than you can take, look to your father and to Jesus for direction.

Prayer

Lord, we are all on this crazy journey called life. The calamities we face may not be spelled out on a card with the causes, effects, and how to solve it. Remind us that you are by our side. When we have losses along the way, comfort us, and help us strengthen our faith in you. We know the journey is long,but you will guide us through. In your name, Amen.