The Elephant Shrew's Trail
In the golden light of the African plains, a tiny creature darts through the tall grass with astonishing speed. She’s not much bigger than a mouse, with a twitchy nose and long legs built for speed. She’s called an Elephant Shrew—though her African name, Sengi, suits her better. And while she may be small, she’s fast. In fact, for her size, she’s one of the fastest animals on earth—nearly twice as quick, inch for inch, as a cheetah.
But life isn’t easy for a little mammal in a land full of big dangers. The grass grows tall and thick, hiding both predator and prey. The Sengi is always hungry—always chasing quick-moving bugs like ants, spiders, and grasshoppers. But the dense brush slows her down. And danger waits in every shadow.
A Path Through the Grass
But the Sengi has a secret. She doesn’t rely on luck or brute force. She relies on a plan—a path.
From the time she’s young, she begins to carve out a network of narrow trails through the grass. These tiny highways form a crisscrossing grid around her territory. She can race along them at full speed, dodging danger, chasing down meals, and escaping from anything with sharp teeth and a growl.
But here’s the catch: the paths don’t stay open on their own. Grass grows back. Sticks fall. Twigs and leaves pile up. So the Sengi spends nearly half of her day not hunting or hiding—but clearing. She pushes back weeds. She trims edges. She maintains the trails.
And when she does, they keep her safe. They lead her to food. They let her escape. As long as she stays on the path—she thrives.
The Path for Us
We may be a lot bigger than the Elephant Shrew—but spiritually speaking, we’re just as vulnerable. The world is full of distractions, detours, and dangers. Temptation lurks in the tall grass. The path forward can feel unclear, especially when life grows busy or confusing. But just like the Sengi, we’ve been given a path—a trail laid out by the wisdom of Someone greater than ourselves.
That path is God’s Word. And it’s not hidden. It’s not tangled. It’s not broken. It’s clear and sure, preserved by the Lord Himself:
“He keepeth the paths of judgment, and preserveth the way of his saints.” (Proverbs 2:8)
The Sengi must constantly fight to keep her paths open. But we don’t have to. God is the one who maintains the way of righteousness. He’s cleared the trail through His Word. Our job is simpler: follow it.
Stay on the Trail
Sometimes, we’re tempted to blaze our own trail—to cut across the field, to chase what looks good in the moment. But when we stray from the path God has given, we lose the safety, clarity, and peace that come with obedience. Proverbs reminds us:
“In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” (Proverbs 3:6)
And Jesus spoke of this path, too. In Matthew 7:14, He said:
“Strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” (Matthew 7:14)
His way may be narrow—but it leads to life. It leads to freedom, peace, and purpose. And unlike the Sengi, we aren’t the ones carving the path. We’re the ones learning to walk it—by faith, not sight.
Fast Feet, Steady Heart
The Sengi may be small, but she lives with intention. Her strength isn’t in her size—but in her devotion to staying on the path. We, too, may feel small in the vastness of the world. But we are not alone. We have a Shepherd who has gone before us. We have a Guide who preserves the way. We have a Savior who said:
“I am the way, the truth, and the life.” (John 14:6)
So keep walking. Keep trusting. The path is already prepared. The Word is sure. The trail is clear.
We don’t need to make the way—we just need to follow it.
