The Plank Road

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I was born in Sarnia, Ontario, Canada. Approximately fifteen miles south-east of Sarnia is a smaller town called Petrolia. In 1858, a road was constructed connecting these two locations. The land was flat and the road was straight, so it was decided to construct the road with wooden planks.

For young boys growing up in Sarnia, it was like a rite of passage when we were old enough to be allowed to ride our bicycles on the Plank Road from Sarnia to Petrolia and return.

My boyhood chum, Don Lunney, and I often talked about the day when we would be allowed to ride the Plank Road.

I remember well the day that our parents decided that we were responsible enough to make the trip all the way to Petrolia and back.

We were very excited, and with our lunches packed and strapped to our backs, we set out early one bright summer day on our exciting adventure.

As we drove on the straight planks, mile after mile, we started to fool around, as boys sometimes do. Eventually, we fell off the roadway. Since the planks were reasonably thick, we hurt our knees when we tumbled onto the gravel beside them. Even though the injuries were not serious, our legs still hurt as we climbed back on our bikes to continue our journey.

After that, we certainly took great care to do what we should have been doing.

Matthew 7:13-14 – Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. (NIV)

Jesus also said, "I am the Way and the Truth and the Life. No one can go to the Father except by Me." (John 14:6 NLV) The Word of God gives us directions for staying on the Way through righteous living. That day on the plank road, I learned three spiritual lessons that have stayed with me these many years.

Firstly, the edge of the road is clearly defined and the road is narrow, not broad enough to allow for wilful wandering or fooling around.

Secondly, one gets hurt when one falls off the road.

Thirdly, regardless of where one would like the road to be or to lead, it stays firmly in place and is the only means of arriving at the correct destination. God's Word is truth, and the truth cannot be changed to suit us.

As I remember the experience on the Plank Road from many years ago, I think of the words of the chorus by Henry Allen:

    The path is very narrow but I'll follow,
    I'll follow, I'll follow,
    The path is very narrow but I'll follow,
    I will follow in the footsteps of my Lord.

Certainly, the truth is that staying on the Way of Jesus is the only safe way to travel.

Prayer: Dear Father, as we journey through life, help us to remember the Way that we should go. Even when we fall, we are grateful that Jesus remains for us as the Way. May we follow and help others to do so also. In His name, we pray. Amen.

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About the author:

Vincent Walter <vwalter@bell.net>
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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1 thought on “The Plank Road”

  1. Good story and application, Vince.

    Another one of your wonderful devotions. Thank you again.

    Thanks for sharing such a great story and your learned lessons.

    It is really help me by this Devotional.
    Thanks best and God bless you.

    Thank you for this wonderful descriptive devotional.
    Blessings to you and your family.

    Thank you, Vincent. Interesting the way you illustrated this truth. Easy to remember.

    Thank you. May we all follow the pathway of our Saviour.
    Blessings.

    Great analogy and explanation which explains the road clearly, Vincent. Thank you and God bless!

    Hello
    Another good one, love the story, it was as if I was on the plank road also.
    God bless.

    I know the Plank Road very well. In fact, our friends lived on the Plank Road and were very close friends.
    Blessings.

    Vincent, you’ve done it again. You draw us straight into the adventure (or misadventure) to experience for ourselves, and to garner the lessons.
    God has blessed you richly in communication skills.

    What a powerful experience you shared today.
    Narrow is the gate and our world needs to know that the gate is not large and the pathway to heaven is not wide.
    Your message touch my heart and urged me to pray for lost souls.

    Vincent, thanks for the story of the plank road. Last Sunday our pastor preached on Jesus’s teaching about the two gates and the narrow way. Your devotional was another reminder to me. Choose routes carefully.
    Blessings.

    Hi there,
    I lived in Sarnia and your title immediately made me think of the Plank Road I knew. Delightful to read on and discover it was! Thank you for your many submissions. I look forward to a Sarnia visit soon and now will always think of your message when on The Plank Road.

    Hello Vincent,
    Thank you for your devotionals. I always appreciate what you share from your experience and from God’s Word.
    God’s blessings on you,
    (ON. CANADA)

    Hello Vince,
    Thanks for sharing about your experience on the “plank road”. Sounds like an interesting road to see in Ontario and you have written a great analogy of the road that we need to follow and that is the one with Jesus . He keeps us on the right path of life that leads to glory! Blessings as you continue writing devotionals.

    Hi Vincent,
    Another amazing Devotional, I really look forward to your writings. They always inspire me. I love the personal part of your devotionals that tie in with Bible verses and lessons.
    Thanks once again.
    Blessings to you.
    (Ont.)

    Vincent;
    Thank you for the written truth today. What a daily challenge to try to do as scripture commands. Thank God we have the Holy Spirit leading and guiding on the narrow path. We truly do learn spiritual lessons from experiences along the way. God bless you and keep you safe and well.

    Mr. Walter. Your Plank road memory is very interesting. Similarly, a plank road was built in Yuma , Az., but because of the shifting sands ,it was difficult to find the path, opposite from the plank road you refer to.
    The world can discreetly take a standard and make it vague over a period of time, much like the sand concealing Arizona’s plank road. God’s ways do not change and are not vague. We can be sure of His path and the Light He shines on it.
    Thanks for your memory clip to assure our travels for this journey.

    Your reflection, today, about the Plank Road, evoked memories of my childhood.
    I was born in Petrolia and moved to Sarnia a few years later.
    My Dad started working in Sarnia, and, to save as much money as he could, he rode his bicycle to work on the Plank Road.
    It’s not easy to imagine anyone doing that 16-mile bike trip twice a day in this day and age. Then, it was just something he did out of love for his family and a desire for us all to have the best life possible.

    Thanks for a thought-provoking article.

    I hope you are writing a book. Thank you for sharing your life experiences and how they can be applied to God’s teachings. Pray you have a great day.

    Dear Vince,
    What a fun story with a great application! We also had plank roads — though before my time — in the rural area where I grew up in southwest Washington state. I remember walking out in the woods not far from our farm when I was growing up and having my mom point out to me remnants of an old plank road out there in the woods. You triggered a fun memory!
    I’ve also heard them called corduroy or puncheon roads.

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