Your Straight Path

Fresco in the Vatican Cappella Paolina by Michelangelo, 1542-45.

I’m yet to meet a Christian who believes Saul was on the straight and narrow path when he “made havock of the church,” committed souls to prison, and consented to the martyrdom of Stephen (Acts 8:1-3).

Yet Saul’s path led him smack dab into the presence of the resurrected Christ, who sent him into Damascus to receive further instructions.

The Lord also appeared to Ananias. He sent Ananias to find Saul—and this is the amazing part—on “the street which is called Straight” (Acts 9:10).

Saul was quite literally on the strait path. He became Paul the Apostle, a staunch advocate of Christ, and wrote much of the book on Christianity.

When the Lord appeared to Ananias, Ananias said, “Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints.” Then the Lord said of Saul, “he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel” (Acts 9:13-15).

We have no right to judge another’s path. Spiritually speaking, we have no idea where others have come from, why they’re where they are, or where they’re going. Chances are, they’re exactly where they need to be, but we don’t see the larger context of their life.

Honor your path. Honor the path of every soul around you, even if you don’t understand it.

And for my friends who are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Russell M. Nelson, whom you sustain as a prophet of God, spoke to a worldwide audience about those who “step away from the Church,” and said, “It is not for you to judge another’s choice.” (“Choices for Eternity,” 15 May 2022).