The Cemetery

I used to live in a neighborhood located across the street from a cemetery. The highway separating my neighborhood from the cemetery was a four lane road complete with a turn lane in the center. Usually traffic flowed with a fair amount of ease both north and southbound along this thorough fare. I recall when it was a two lane road. One could almost hear the numerous sighs of relief once this country road was expanded to accommodate all the vehicles that utilized it due to the population growth of the area. 

The cemetery looked like most I'd seen. The ground's keeper took very good care to cut the grass and trim the bushes. I remember attending a couple of graveside services there for friends that had died. I also recall a group of people lining the various paths that wind through the cemetery with luminaries so people could drive their cars through the cemetery at night during the Easter season to reflect on the death and resurrection of Jesus.

One weekday morning I was late leaving home to get to work. As I approached the highway that passes between my neighborhood and the cemetery I noticed that the southbound side was backed up past the entrance to my neighborhood and it did not appear as though the traffic was moving at all. There is a two lane road just on the other side of the cemetery. I noticed an occasional automobile traveling along that two lane road. All of a sudden the Bible passage in Matthew chapter seven came rushing into my mind, you know, the one that speaks about the difference between the broad way and the narrow way. 

The broad way is said to be the path that leads to destruction and because it is so accessible  many enter that way. The narrow way, on the other hand, leads to life and because it is so narrow few find its path. As I observed the numerous cars backed up on this four lane highway I began to consider the difference between the two roadways that were set before me. I could fall in line with the other drivers on the major highway and wait for the traffic to clear or I could make my way to the two lane road. The only way that I was going to get to the two lane road was to pass through the cemetery. 

As I made my way through the cemetery all of a sudden the reality of that scripture began to explode within me. It was as though a light came on in my understanding. The only way one will discover the narrow way is to leave the broad way behind. The only way to leave the broad way behind is to awaken to life that is already within you. The cemetery represented my awareness that a death needed to occur to bring about life. 

I have traveled that major highway lots of times since then but I shall never forget what was shown to me that morning as I made my way through the cemetery to reach a new understanding and awareness of the narrow road and the cost to get there.