‘Footprints in the Sand’ is a much loved poem which talks of life as a journey, walking on sand, often with two sets of footprints visible (representing ours and God’s) and in the places where only one set of footprints is visible, this is not a sign of God abandoning us but of Him carrying us through the trials and difficulties of life:
Someone has written a more modern twist on the poem which goes on to say that ‘at the lowest and saddest times in my life, there was one set of footprints along with gouges and irregular lines in the sand’, the explanation for which is this is when God carried and dragged the person ‘kicking and screaming like a spoiled brat’, which made me smile ruefully because that is often how I do react, alas…
But what about the times when there are no footprints at all? Ps 77, a psalm which begins in complaining self-pity and ends in meditation on God’s wonderful works, says ‘Your path led through the sea, Your way through the mighty waters, though Your footprints were not seen.’ (Ps 77:19) On our journey through life there are times when we don’t see footprints at all; the mighty waters, after all, erase all trace of footprints and there can be no ‘evidence’ at all of God’s presence. We are called to walk by faith and not by sight. (2 Cor 5:7) These musings inspired the poem that follows.
The one set of footprints we see
Is, they say, where the Lord carried us,
But what about the days
When footprints can’t be seen at all?
What do we do, then,
When there is no trace evidence,
No footprints to follow?
Where is this guidance You promised us?
Where is the clearly illuminated path?
We trudge on in obedience,
Following the only path we see,
Wondering where it will lead.
Our scouting skills
Search assiduously for signs of Your presence,
For strategically-placed twigs and branches,
For carvings in the tree trunks,
For arrows pointing ahead,
As we frown over compressed leaves,
Trying to trace the imprint of a shoe,
The pressure of a foot’s presence.
But then we’re at the sandy shore,
Water lapping around our feet,
Vastness before us as we gaze at crashing waves.
You want us to walk through that?
Unseen footprints
Leading through impossible terrain,
Calling us to walk by faith and not by sight.
One step of faith –
The waters recede.
Our muddy footprints soon erased
As the waters gush back,
Eradicating the evidence of this tumultuous journey.
But we remember.
We’re on the other side.
There may be no footprints,
No evidence, no proof,
But our very presence here
On the other side
Shows us Your presence with us.
So walk on by faith,
When there are no footprints to be seen,
Listening alertly for the voice that says,
‘This is the way; walk in it.’