The rim of an abyss brings insight and farsight

My husband and I took the day off last week to visit an aunt who lives more than 3 hours drive away. Blue sky, colorful tree leaves and off we went.

Near Ithaca, New York, we noticed a sign to Taughannock Falls.

On the way home, after a fun visit with our aunt, we stopped at the waterfalls. Pronounced Tuh-GA-nick, Taughannock falls carves a 400 foot deep gorge through layers of sandstone, shale and limestone that were once the bed of an ancient sea. With a 215 foot plunge, this waterfall stands three stories taller than Niagara Falls.

A narrow trail around the rim of the abyss was hiked by sturdy visitors so we decided to follow.

We didn’t bring water so when we discovered the hike was much longer than we were aware of, we had to make a decision to return the way we came or continue on around and circumvent the entire abyss. We asked a gentleman who was walking his dog and concluded we could make the entire hike.

Following Christ isn’t about following physical footsteps, but about following wisdom, insight, friendliness, patience, and common sense—spiritual qualities we all can access and manifest.

From 21^st Century Science and Health, “The divine demand, “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect,”[1] is scientific, and the human footsteps leading to perfection are requisite. Individuals are consistent, who, watching and praying, can “run and not grow weary…walk and not be faint,”[2] who gain goodness rapidly and hold their position, or attain slowly and yield not to discouragement. God requires perfection, but not until the battle between Spirit and flesh is fought and the victory won. To stop eating, drinking, or being clothed materially before the spiritual facts of existence are gained step by step, is not legitimate. When we wait patiently on God and seek Truth righteously, Spirit directs our thought and action. Imperfect human beings grasp the ultimate of spiritual perfection slowly; but to begin aright and to continue the strife of demonstrating the great problem of being is doing much.”

[1] Matt. 5:48

[2] Isa. 40:31