My wife and I decided to take an alternate route on the second to the last day of our Camino journey in Spain. A less-traveled path promised unmatched views of the ocean and lots of time alone. But no one warned us about the nettles.
The trail indeed proved gorgeous, winding above the ocean and offering breathtaking views. But thick gorse bushes and nettles lined much of the narrow track. Planning for a hot day I wore shorts, which provided no help as I plunged through the briars. I eventually completed the hike and now have the scars to prove it.
Life often proves nettle-some (annoying or difficult). Even with diligence, we cannot avoid every bramble in our path. But worse are the thorns that sprout due to our inattention. In Proverbs we read:
I went past the field of a sluggard, past the vineyard of someone who has no sense; thorns had come up everywhere (Proverbs 24:30-31). The way of the sluggard is blocked with thorns, but the path of the upright is a highway (Proverbs 15:19).
I experience plenty of nettlesome situations without creating any more of my own. When I ignore the sound teachings of Scripture I choose the way of a sluggard—a lazy fool.
Tonight my ransacked legs are reminding me of the pain found in briars and nettles. Tomorrow I’ll choose a broader path and avoid them altogether. Which is often a good idea for life as well.
Camino de Santiago 2024
Photo: My leg after a dance with the nettles
