Enter by the narrow gate

James Cathcart March 05, 2026 3 1

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Matthew 7: 13-14 (NIV-UK)

13 ‘Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

God's road isn’t always the easy road. Sometimes it’s a half remembered track, overgrown and overshadowed by the new fly-over! 

It can be a difficult road, that asks us to trudge and trek. But follow it and see where it takes you. Goodness and easiness are not the same thing.

I read a fantastic line recently in Katherine Rundell’s novel ‘Impossible Creatures’. An older character gives this advice to the two young protagonists: ‘…stop expecting life to get easier. It never does; that is not where its goodness lies…’

Goodness asks much of us and has much to give us. Evil doesn’t always ask much of us, but it will take it anyway. 

Here’s two wee poems to nudge us towards the road less travelled.

Narrow Gate Haiku 

Small is the gate now

But as inviting as Spring

Come closer and see

Narrow Gate Villanelle

Come through this narrow gate

never mind the weeds

step through, don’t wait.

Overgrown of late,

pull aside the leaves

Come through this narrow gate.

Duck low, the light’s not great

tread with the care of thieves

step through, don’t wait.

Adventure to anticipate

see where it leads

Come through this narrow gate.

This road is rough, you’ll slip and skate,

‘goodness doesn’t come easy' memory speaks,

step through, don’t wait.

Goodness will challenge and frustrate

bless and reward, rejoice and grieve

Come through this narrow gate

step through, don’t wait.

Prayer:

Dear God,

It’s not always easy to find the narrow gate

when it’s become overgrown and little known

but take my hand

lead me to it and through it

take me deeper and deeper into life

Amen.