Out in the woods. Walking. A path branching away. A quick impulse. Leave my trail. Not for long. Backtrack to my path.

I have taken brief side trips on many hikes. Just exploring a bit here and satisfying my curiosity a little there, you know.

Usually, that’s fine on a hike.

But not in life, not when my main path is God’s way.

“Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men” (Proverbs 4:14).

Not even for a bit. Not in my reading, not in my thinking, not in my music, not in my speech, not in my attitudes, not in my whatever.

Just stay out of the ungodly way.

Don’t even step into it for a little.