NARROW ROAD
WAPANGRENBA IMCHEN
January 8, 2026
Stuck in a traffic jam, under the relentless downpour of rain, I found myself crawling through an unfamiliar, narrow road, hemmed in by congestion and confusion. The thrill of the open highway that I usually cruised with joy and ease stood in sharp contrast to this moment of confinement and caution. This inconvenient stillness, in the forced slowness of the jam, gives me a space for a deep reflection.
At this distressing moment, Matthew 7:13–14 echoes like a divine commentary. “Enter through the narrow gate… small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” I had tasted the joy of wide roads, open spaces—spaces that offer speed, thrill, and freedom. But in that same breadth lies danger. Crashes on highways are more fatal; the margin for error is minimal, yet the consequences severe. Spiritually, wide roads may resemble a life of ease, popularity, and self-indulgent that often leads to ruin.
The narrow road today demanded my full attention. I had to stay alert, be on my guard, drive defensively, slow down, and yield when necessary. In many ways, the narrow road shaped me into a more mindful and disciplined driver. It reminds me that the way of Christ is not marked by ease but by intention. It calls for humility, repentance, perseverance, and self-denial. Few choose it, not because it is hidden, but because it demands everything.
I also noticed how seasoned drivers in this hill town seemed to park their cars with ease—swift, spider-like movements honed by practice. I, on the other hand, fumbled, needing time and space. True that in a Christian walk with God, maturity is not instant. It is through repeated obedience in tight, difficult places that we are formed. Through the narrow intimidating and so uncomfortableness, I believe, trains us, sharpens us, and ultimately leads to life.
Today's comfortless experience was not a waste. It was a divine classroom. The narrow road slowed me, guarded me, and reminded me that while the broad way might offer thrill, only the narrow way leads to life. The road that I want to avoid, yet the road that leads home.
