Interview with Carolyn Dawson: The Narrow Path

Some of my family recently walked the length of Hadrian’s wall. I did not join them!

The Christian life is sometimes likened to walking; walking with Jesus.

Now that’s a walk I like to join in with.

Physical walking is something I’ve needed to re-learn to do fairly often, due to surgeries.

My re-learning always begins with the basics: stand, put one foot forward……

Do we ever go back to basics with Jesus, and remind ourselves of the fundamentals?

We need to be on good foundations.

Foundations that can get lost in the walking.

Fundamentals that can grow dim in the distance.

Carolyn Dawson’s book, The Narrow Path, reminded me to go back to basics in my faith.

I interviewed Carolyn about the book, picking up on some themes mentioned there, discovering where the title came from, and finding out more about her own Narrow Path.

Hi Carolyn, Congratulations on your book! Thank you for agreeing to talk with me.

Tell me three things about yourself.

I love to travel and explore new places.

Tigers are my favourite animal.

I attended Graymount Girls Secondary School and at the end of my fifth year I was given a prize for not missing a day at school. If memory serves me right, the prize was a book token!

What’s your favourite colour?

Blue (but I am partial to a bit of pink).

What’s your favourite food?

A big bowl of stew, the Northern Ireland version of course (mince steak, potato, carrot and onion). You just can’t beat it on a cold winter’s night.

When did you come to know Jesus?

I am incredibly thankful to have been raised in a godly home with a Christian mother, grandmother and grandfather. I gave my heart to Jesus on 6th January 1975, aged 6, at the side of my bed with my mum.

Where did the title of your book come from?

From Matthew 7:14 - ‘For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.’

Who did you write the book for?

Truthfully, I wrote it for everyone and anyone who needs a little encouragement, or a bit of direction, or a better understanding of what faith in Jesus really means. As you know, publishers like a genre and target audience, which I fully appreciate, so it is marketed towards new believers. However, I have been a Christian for almost 50 years and this book challenged me, so I do believe there is something in there for everyone.

There is certainly something for me, thank you.

What encouraged you as you wrote the book?

The presence of God and the guidance of the Spirit.

What challenged you as you wrote the book?

Every chapter! As I read and studied what Jesus taught, I was convicted at every turn. Everything written has spoken to me personally over the years.

Sum up in three words or fewer what walking The Narrow Path means for you.

Abundant life.

You write about the I AM sayings of Jesus. Which one is most meaningful to you right now?

I am the Bread of Life. Jesus, the Word of Life; our manna from heaven – He is my spiritual nourishment and it is His word and His promises alone that sustain me on this journey through life.

You write about Peace. Tell me about a time when you have experienced peace that only Jesus can give.

Oh, where to start; there have been many, but one of the most poignant times took place in a hospital room on Wednesday 20th February 2019. My mum suffered from chronic pain her whole life and strong medication over the decades caused additional internal issues. Hospital visits were not uncommon, especially for infection, but mum was resilient and always came home again. On Sunday 17th February, mum was rushed again to hospital and in the early hours of Monday I was advised to let family come and say goodbye. I stayed in the chair beside her bed for the next two days. When the sound of her breathing changed, I got on the bed. When I came into this world, mum held me in her arms; when she left this world, I held her in mine – and the peace of God filled the room. The peace of a promise fulfilled… no more pain.

Tell me about someone in the Bible you are drawn to, and why.

Hagar. Acquired by Abram in Egypt, she was thrust into a life she never expected and then a situation she never asked for; when things got too much she decided to run. Then the truly unexpected happened. God pursued her in the wilderness and speaks right into her situation, and she says, ‘Truly here I have seen him who looks after me.’ And she called the Lord who spoke to her, El Roi – The God who sees me. Hagar reminds me that God does not just know everything about my life and everything that is going on around me – He sees me.  In among the billions of people on earth, God sees me. The thought is simply incredible.

I’d like to quote some words to you; you may recognise them, since you wrote them….

‘Walking on the Narrow Path can encourage those walking alongside us’. Tell me about someone who has encouraged you like this.

The more I thought about this question, the more answers I came up with, which actually makes me feel really blessed. Choosing one particular person would be a disservice to the rest, so I am choosing a group – Fresh Water Christian Fellowship. We were small in number but big in spiritual encouragement. There was a caring attitude of involvement in each other’s lives, keeping us accountable while providing a safe place to be honest about our struggles, and covering each other in prayer.

You write about the Fruit of the Spirit. Do you have one that you’ve particularly cultivated in your life?

Love. Everything stems and grows from a place of genuine love. If I don’t have that, the rest of the fruit will be non-existent. That being said, cultivating God-love is hard for us (yet we take His love for granted) and I often struggle with it, but I will never stop tending to it.

You mention in the book that Galatians 2:20 is a favourite verse of yours. Can you tell me another favourite verse, and why?

Isaiah 41:10 – ‘Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.’ (ESV)

I love this verse because I hear God speaking directly to me, telling me not to be afraid to tackle anything that He wills for me to do, but to step out in faith because He is with me. He will provide the strength that I need, whether physical, mental or spiritual; the help that I need, for no resource will be withheld; the support that I need, for He will defend me and stand for me.

I learned in the book that you are a singer. Do you have a favourite song/hymn?

‘When I Survey The Wondrous Cross.’ I have loved this hymn for as long as I can remember and I can’t get through it without a lump in my throat. Words can be so powerful.

How can we pray for you?

I may have the opportunity to speak about this book, but I am not a speaker. I get off track easily, lose my place and start to ramble, which is fine when you are with friends, but strangers… anyway, yes, that’s where I need prayer. Thank you.

Thank you, Carolyn.

Father God,

Thank You for Carolyn. Thank You for her heart to follow You, and to encourage others in their walk with You.

We pray for each reader of The Narrow Path. Father, please encourage, affirm, and gently challenge each one in their journey with You.

Thank You for Carolyn’s faithfulness in writing. We pray for her as this book heads out into the world. Please help Carolyn speak about it. Give her opportunities, and words to say. Keep her on track with You, not only in speaking, but in every aspect of her life.

May The Narrow Path be a real blessing.

Amen.

I have a copy of The Narrow Path to give away. If you’d like to be in with a chance of winning it, please sign up to my newsletter Get in Touch — Emily Owen (emily-owen.com) . I’ll pick the winner at random from subscribers on October 2nd.

The Narrow Path is available to buy from the usual online places, and from Carolyn direct: http://www.narrowpath.uk/shop