But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.

Galatians‬ ‭5‬:‭16

Here’s an obvious but difficult truth. It’s akin to the quip in AA: “if you don’t drink you won’t get drunk.”

They’re saying the same things though the audience is broader in scripture.

What we do matters. Where we go matters. Our attitudes matter. Our beliefs matter. Our posture matters. Our examples matter.

Maximus was hinting toward the truth with the movie quote, “what we do in life echoes in eternity.”

Yes. I agree. Not in the Elysian Fields but in the truth that we ought to try and conduct ourselves well in this life.

We have been given instruction and example and promise. We have experienced the sour fruits of straying from it. And we have the opportunity to align ourselves back to our Creator with his help.

Walking by the spirit is just a phrase. But it’s packed with heart and goodness. And we have the entirety of scripture as well as lifetimes of work from smarter people than me to expound on it.

But as a target, I believe it’s within anyone’s aim. We intuitively understand right and wrong despite the misappropriated adventurous interpretations of what truth is in our culture.

We are able to walk further into the forest of our addiction, our desires, ourselves.

Or we can put aside the easier path and look towards the difficult, unmarked path toward Him. As we trudge this path of the spirit, we begin to identify the markings we were blind to at first.

And as we journey on, we bind ourselves together: encouraging each other and taking turns leading.

God, I can’t do life alone. Lead me toward you with others.