Taking a trip means following the directions

Russ Waldrop / "From the Pulpit"
Published: April 18, 2008

Asking for directions along the highway is difficult for many of us. It implies a certain amount of ignorance, helplessness or pride (especially pride) on our part. Then again, other people’s directions can be difficult to follow. How many times have you wondered, “Did they say to take two rights, then a left at the light or to take two lefts, and then a right at the stop sign?”
Being lost and in need of directions offers a spiritual parable. Jesus put it this way: “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. But narrow is the gate and straight is the way that leads to life and there are few who find it” (Matt. 7:13-14).
This is not exactly an invitation to a party, is it? After all, it has come to refer to the “straight and narrow” way of life, often portrayed as humorless and restrictive, maybe like a “straight jacket.” Does it deserve that reputation?
The key to this passage is perspective. Let’s imagine ourselves in a car driving onto an interstate highway. Before we actually get there, we must “enter by a narrow gate” called the “ramp.” Would we enter directly onto the highway from the woods? Hopefully not. Entering where there is no ramp could cause all sorts of problems.
That is the reason for having rules on the highway. Following them creates safety; taking turns gives everyone time, space, and opportunity to get to where they are going.
Ok, we’re merging onto the actual highway now. Did we use our turn signal? That alerts other drivers that we are about to move in on them. We appreciate that signal when others do it to us, don’t we? We might even smile or wave at them when they do. Lack of appreciation for common courtesy and manners on the highway is the most common driver complaint, according to many surveys.
We’ve been on the road for a while now. Just how wide is it? No matter how many lanes there are, we are to drive in only one lane at a time. Yes, some claim that this is a real imposition, but again, the key is perspective. If we disobey highway rules by driving all over the breadth and width of the road, we endanger everyone. As Jesus said, that way “leads to destruction and many there are who go in by it.”
Sometimes the traffic is hectic, isn’t it? Following the rules is important. One lane at a time; obey the speed limit; yield the road occasionally; signal people before cutting them off; don’t have “road rage”; etc. In the rest of life we have “the Ten Commandments,” which Jesus said have one basic goal — loving God and neighbor simultaneously. Apparently, he expects us to practice our faith on the highway, too.
One problem with this passage is that it sounds deterministic. Can’t the many that live life all over the road move over to one safe, narrow lane, especially before getting off the highway at life’s final exit?
Grammatically, the present participles of the Greek text can be translated into English as “many there are who are going in” by the wide, destructive way while “few there are who are finding” the straighter and narrower way. Jesus was hopeful that the “many” would become fewer and fewer, but that would be their decision. On the interstate highway, and in our daily lives, safe driving is up to us.

The Rev. Russell G. Waldrop, D. Min., LPC, is a pastoral counselor and is chaplain of Western State Hospital. Contact him at 540-332-8004 or at .