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Who is Amblin Andy???
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Some time ago my wife and I hiked around the western coast of Ireland. Most of our trip was spent on the Dingle Way. In Ireland the walking trails are called "ways". As we hiked through the country, the only way we knew that we were still on the path was by following trail markers, like the one to the left. These markers became a great comfort to us, especially when the day grew tired. So we gave this little guy a name, "Amblin Andy".
Andy just seemed to
have a nack for being just around the corner of difficult hikes. The
sight of him was not only encouraging, but confirming as well. This can be compared to our spiritual walk in many ways.
- we could not
have found our way without the path of those who had gone before us.
- We often needed the encouragement of "markers" when we were in
doubt.
- etc...
On a deeper level, Andy reminds us of John Bunyan's classic character, Christian. Christian carry's a load which only
the lord can remove. He walks a path full of dangers and trials. There
are those that seek to harm him, and those that seek to bless him.
Sometimes he wanders off the path to the castle of Despair. Sometimes he
gets lost in Vanity Fair. Yet God is faithful and completes the work he
has begun. Our hope in using Andy as an image is to know that while
this life is full of trials, it is also full of promises and comfort.
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