It’s easy to get lost on the internet.

When I should be reading, writing, observing…soaking in the nature in front of me. Soaking in the words on the pages on my lap. When I should be listening to the birds as they yell at the squirrels who throw acorns at my head. When I should be noticing the chipmunk on the deck who doesn’t know I’m there. When I should be talking to the one who created me and has a bigger purpose for me than getting lost in a series of scrolling.

It’s easy to get lost in the busy.

When I should be slowing down. Prioritizing God. Prioritizing anything above the checklist and yes-es that probably should have been no-s. When I should be slow to speak and quick to listen but my frustration from the busy gets the best of me. When the people in my life should get the best of me.

It’s easy to get lost in the crowd.

When I should be searching for the truth. Reading the details. Praying for wisdom. When I should be valuing the person more than the argument. When I should be asking questions instead of assuming. When I should be gathering information instead of spouting opinions.

It’s easy to follow the world.

When the world is loud and accessible and immediate. When it is too conveniently in front of me. When it includes people I care about. It’s easier than the alternative… the narrow gate. Especially when the directions to the narrow gate aren’t on a google map. Especially when the directions don’t come in snack size memes and headlines.

It’s hard.

To say no to the peer pressure. To the guilt trips. To the advertising. To the rationalized justified initial domino. It’s hard to walk away, to put on headphones, to turn off the devices and the voices and choose another voice. It’s hard to listen and learn and decide at your own pace and not at the pace others demand.

It’s rewarding.

To read, write, observe, listen, notice, slow down, prioritize, give my best to people, search for truth, read the details, pray for wisdom, value people, ask questions, say no, and seek God’s path even if it’s narrow.

It’s rewarding to do what is hard.

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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.

Jesus recorded in Matthew 7:13-14