The Narrow Road

They started their journey in silence. 

Because they barely knew each other. 

But also, because they had so much to think about. 

 

She had been on long journeys before. 

She had travelled on a donkey before. 

 

But she had never been pregnant before.

She had never given birth before.

And now as she travelled away from her mother and all the women who could have supported her with her delivery, she had a lot to be nervous about.

 

She looked at him as he led the donkey she was sitting on.

He seemed to be a decent man. Responsible. Took the news of her unexpected pregnancy remarkably well, all things considering. Seemed focus on getting them safely to Bethlehem for the census and the delivery. 

 

But could he really handle all that was to happen? Having a baby is hard enough. Then raising a child together, keeping such a huge secret together. Would he be up for the narrow road ahead? 

 

"The road gets easier from here", he reassured her. It's more level and there are spots we can stop and take water breaks on the way. 

 

She was relieved to hear that. She had been parched and was wondering whether the baby could feel thirsty too. 

 

The baby. She could feel him kicking around. And she knew it was a boy because the angel said so. As she relived that meeting with the angel and then that marvelous experience that got her pregnant, she wondered: would anyone really believe me if I told them exactly what happened? Thank God, cousin Elizabeth did. But who else can I trust so freely?

 

He stopped and settled them at the resting spot for a drink of water and some bread. As he reached out to help her off the donkey, he couldn't help gaze at her bulging belly. 

 

The baby. The baby that wasn't his and yet completely his responsibility. He knew what he heard the angel say was true. But seeing that bulging belly was a constant reminder. There is a real baby in there. And not just any ordinary baby. He looked at her as she drank her water. This must be so hard for her. Never been with a man and yet so definitely pregnant. How is she going to deliver this child? Watching other women go through it is one thing. Going through it yourself is another. She's so young. So open to God. So trusting of life. I've seen harder days than her. I've got to protect her. Protect them both. So that together we can face the narrow road ahead. 

 

As he helped her up the donkey again, he could feel the weight of her body and the baby. I'm responsible for two other human beings now. Well, atleast one of them is only human. It's the divine child that's more perplexing. How do I father a child who is the Son of my Creator? 

 

What can I possibly teach him that he doesn't already know? Will he even accept me as his father, knowing who He truly is?

 

They reached a fork in the road. One of many important decisions they must make together. 

 

“There are two roads to Bethlehem”, he explained to her. “This broad one is where all the travelers go through. There are lots of eateries and rest stops on the way. But it inevitably takes longer to reach Bethlehem because there are so many distractions on the way. And some have reported that others got lost on the way and never reached Bethlehem at all. No one knows where they landed. I’ve heard all kinds of stories and none of them ended well.

 

This narrow road is taken by a few serious travelers. The ones that need to get to Bethlehem without delay. But it's got only one stop and little help on the way. Which one should we take?” 

 

They looked at each other as they contemplated their options. 

 

Then they looked at the baby together. And the answer was clear.

Let's take the narrow road.

We don't know what lies ahead.

But we know where we want to go.

We know this road will take us there. 

And we know who travels along with us down this narrow road. 

 

“Are you ready to give up the comforts you might get on the broad road?” He asked her, just to make sure. “I was just going to ask you the same thing”, she said. They both laughed because they already knew the answer.

 

And thus began their life long partnership: choosing the narrow road together for the sake of the baby they carried along the way. And for the sake of the hordes of humanity who would stand at that crossroad and want to choose the broad road.