A man was walking down a path one morning. He was in a hurry to get to his destination but still admired the beauty of the wilderness that surrounded him. At one point, a small pebble found its way inside his boot. Being such an incredibly small thing, at first he paid little attention to it. But before long, its presence between his foot and the leather of the boot became an irritation. However, being in such a hurry he pressed on reassuring himself that it was only a tiny pebble. After another mile or two, his foot was in pain. He distorted the way he walked, twisting his leg in an award fashion still determined to make good time on his trip. He no longer admired the sunshine or blooming flowers. Each step sent fresh waves of agony up his leg until the pain was all he focused on. Eventually he could go no further. He sat down and removed his boot to find his foot red, swollen, blistered, and bloody. When he tried to stand up again, his foot would not support him. His journey came to an early end.
Isn’t it amazing how something so small can cause so much pain if left unchecked?
“But each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and entice. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.” (James 1:14-15)
As the man sat by the path, lamenting his plight, an older man came walking by. Seeing the bloody and mangled foot, he was moved with compassion and knelt by the younger man. Having previously removed a rock from his own foot, the older man knew the misery but he also knew solution. He carefully removed the pebble that was deeply buried in the younger man’s foot although it caused more pain. He then anointed the foot with oils to begin the healing process. After bandaging the foot, the older man helped the younger man up and supported him as they continued down the path together.