Alan Neale

Writer • Speaker

Oh they stray so often!

As I think about writing this post, I sense some fear that yet again here is the rambling frenetic rants of an old man. I dispense with those fears pretty quickly because it’s better for these rants to be written here in the land of almost total emptiness rather than intrude them upon another real ear; I also dispense with these fears because, let us be honest, that is the purpose of most blogs… am I right or not.
Oh they stray so often… I refer to those fellow pedestrians sent to try me who clearly feel that they have opportunity to increase their ambulatory exercise by not only moving forward but even from left of sidewalk to right of sidewalk as they make their progress (progress?).

There am I, strange little mind, trying my best to keep in a straight line in order not to spoil the passage of others.

Alan, calm down. Sometimes distractions across the street, a tugging child or animal (generally distinguishable) or (curse of curses) an intent attention to i-phones and their ilk will cause straying.

And then I reflect that my straying from the lovely and good purpose of the Lord is generally caused by my paying to much attention to that which is far from primary. By the stray, sorry by the way, these moments of ‘straydom’ occur for me not only in the big decisions but in those decisions made day by day, even sometimes minute by minute.

“The Lord is my shepherd, He guides me in right pathways” – and without causing others to stumble!