Path of Least Resistance

Today, our Bishop was coming to do Confirmations. The Handbells were playing for both the 9:00 and the 11:30 services at our Church, so Don had to get there early to practice and stay late to take down. We decided I should take the kids just in time for the early service since we were staying for both (to hear the bells play) and they'd get very antsy. The less time they had to waste around the church the better for all of us.

On the drive over, it was raining. Deanna was sitting in the very back of the van, looking out the window.

"Mama," she asked, "why do all the raindrops, no matter where they hit the window, make their way to the same path to run down the window?"

"It's called 'the path of least resistance', honey," I explained. Then I launched into a philosophical discussion about what that means. I explained that the raindrops find the easiest route down, where the path of debris and dryness has already been cleared, much the same as the ice speed skaters we watched during the Olympics would tuck themselves in behind the front skater and take advantage of the lead man breaking the air. The wind resistance on them would be much less, giving them a little rest and the opportunity to increase their speed after the respite. Even the tiny bit of resistance they experienced from moving their bodies through the air could affect their overall time and every microsecond of less resistance moved them closer to Gold.

The Scripture from Matthew 7 (13 and 14) sprang to mind: "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." I explained to Deanna that the world, the flesh and the devil are all tugging at us. If we're not moving forward, then these forces are pulling us backward. There is no standing still in the spiritual world.

"It's much easier to get to Hell than Heaven," I told the children. The way to Hell is the path of least resistance. Heaven takes work. It's not easy - it's narrow, rocky, and has had much less traffic to smooth it over."

All three children sat quietly. I asked Dane if he understood what I was saying.

"Yes, Mama, I really do," he responded. "Satan makes his way easier for us so we'll take the easy path and end up with him. If we want to be with God in Heaven, it takes work."

"It also means that we can't do what everyone else does," Deanna chimed in.

"That's right," Dane added. "We have to choose the hard way, even if everyone else chooses the easy way. We shouldn't follow the crowd, we should follow Jesus."

"And His way isn't usually easy, but it's worth it," Deanna finished.

Long sigh. Children with spiritual eyes and loving hearts. I hope this is a lesson they remember always. Me, too.