Pilgrim's Progress

John boy and I are reading Pilgrim's Progress, the second most read book in the world next to the Bible.  I read it years ago, but am finding it even better today.  We recently saw an animated version of it, and it was excellent. 

I am barely into it, and have come to the part where the pilgrim, Christian, comes to  a slough.  He and a fellow traveler (Pliable) fall into it.  It is called the Slough of Despond.  It is a place where all the fears, doubts and discouraging apprehensions in a person settle.  "It is not the pleasure of the King that this place should remain so bad." (Isaiah 35:3,4) but many have been swallowed up in it!

There are, however, "good and substantial" steps that have been placed at the slough, but because this slough "spews our it's filth" these steps are hardly seen.

Wow!  What a word for the world we live in today.  Everywhere one looks it seems there is a slough.  It is encouraging to know, however, that there are steps (if we but have eyes to see) that lead out of the slough!  Praying for all of us to see those steps!  

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