Who is Amblin Andy???col-ireland

 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 trial markers, like the one above. 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. Instantly there are hundreds of connections to our Spiritual walk.

  • 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...
For Passages, Andy represents John Bunyan's Christian. He 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 kill 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.