Every once in a while in a movie I've heard the term "take a hike" directed at someone. Maybe some of us have used that term at one point or another...like maybe with an overly aggressive salesman or the like....or at least thought it. In that context it usually means "get away from me" or "leave me alone". And, in that context it really isn't a very polite way of dealing with the situation is it?
There are a lot of "pesky" situations that come our way that can try our patience, tolerance, and the degree of kindness we are willing at that given time to dole out. Some of those situations we bring upon ourselves, and others are brought upon us....but our reactions are the same. Take a hike. As we walk our walk through this thing we call life, we constantly come in contact with others....many others. And those others come in varying degrees of brokenness, may have different value sets, may be carrying baggage we cannot fathom, and yes, may never have had any meaningful contact with even a rudimentary Christian life. At times those others can be very trying in our lives, and at times it may be impossible, just because of circumstances, to not have those people in some part of our lives. Bosses and co-workers come to mind. What to do?
J. C. Ryle said something quite appropriate: "We must give up the vain idea of trying to please everybody. It is impossible, and the attempt is a mere waste of time. We must be content to walk in Christ's steps, and let the world say what it likes."
You know, sometimes it is we that need to "take a hike". And as long as we wear Christ's shoes and walk in His steps while doing so, perhaps we will find that those "others" really aren't all that hard to tolerate, have patience with, and be kind to. And maybe, just maybe, by us being the one to take that kind of hike, it might be just enough of an example to that "other" that he or she would ask questions that would ultimately lead them to take a real hike. But that will never happen if you don't "take a hike".
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