Walking With Him

In my attempt to be more physically fit, I’ve started back walking. Walking for me is one my solace practices…one in which I LOVE to indulge! There is something so peaceful/mystical about walking; time when I’m allotted some much needed…uninterrupted time with God and myself WOOSA :)

I’ve become very methodical about my walking routine…being very careful to choose the right path with the inclusion of hills and exclusion of any nuisances; no distractions allowed! My practice, anytime I walk is to be quiet for the first few moments of the walk so that I can clear my mind and concentrate on my breathing. So once my walk commences I begin to tune out and tune in.

For those that are familiar with the Utica NY area, follow along with me on my route. For those that are not, I will try to give a detailed route as it is necessary to understand my writing for today.

I live in South Utica…off of Genesee Street; near the Uptown Theatre. So I start my walk out on that corner…I walk up Genesee Street until I reach Higby Road (the border of New Hartford). I turn left onto Higby Road and walk up towards Oneida Street. I turn left on Oneida Street and walk down that street. I bare a slight left onto Holland Avenue. I turn left onto Leslie Avenue; make a right onto Howe Street and arrive…back at my home.

I have never really tracked the mileage or the time on this journey as I’m not concerned with how far I walk, as long as I walk.

On those lazy, overwhelming, I don’t feel like walking days; I convince myself not to do the ENTIRE walk. I tell myself it is okay to take a short cut because after all, I am more concerned about the walk itself, not the distance. In an attempt to walk in a much shorter time frame; I could cut the trip in half by turning up a side street before I get to Hess Gas Station, which is before the turn onto Higby Road.

So midway into this particular walk, it was one of those days. I told myself that I would take the “shorter” route and that I shouldn't feel guilty about making that decision. I felt that I should applaud myself for just having the strength to get outta the house and for taking the initiative to walk. So even if I took the “shorter route,” it’d be okay because at least, I still walked…

JUSTIFICATIONS…

Subsequently, continuing on with my walk…taking the shorter walk became my destined goal. As I journeyed…I began to sing the song, “More Than Anything.”

I lift my hands in total adoration unto you. You reign on the thrown. For you are God and God alone. Because of you my cloudy days are gone. I can sing to you this song. I just wanna say that I love you more than anything. I just wanna say that I love you more than anything. I love you Jesus. I worship and adore you. Just want to tell you. Lord I love you more than anything.

The more I sung the chorus (I love you Jesus. I worship and adore you. Just want to tell you. Lord I love you more than anything) the more I walked. The more I walked, the more I sung and walked and sung; soon, the song began to take precedence over my walk…my route…and even my thoughts, about going “shorter.”

By the time I realized where I was, I had already passed Hess’ Gas Station…I had already passed the point of my giving up…my retreat...my point of surrender...and going back was no longer an option! As I rounded Higby Road, I thought about God’s grace…His mercy…His sovereignty...His Guidance and His faithfulness. This walk had nothing to do with me, but EVERYTHING to do with God. And the more I focused on that, the less the walk or the route became relevant!

And that began to make me grateful that God doesn’t take me on or thru shortcuts to have me arrive at my destined end! I became grateful…thankful that every stop & yield, speed regulation, selective exclusion, parking prohibition & emergency restriction, road closed, weight limit, weigh station, seat belt, turn & curve, intersection, advance traffic control, merge & lane transition, width restriction, divided highway, hill, pavement condition, lane transition, advance warning/crossing, low clearance, advisory speed, dead-end, no outlet, no passing, speed hump, work zone, road work, slow traffic, stop sign, detour, and caution light…EVERY traffic signal...traffic warning HE deems fitting for any particular season of my life is what He’s ordained for my destined end...without shortcuts...it's all for my good...betterment!

Sure the journey takes longer and requires me to exert much more effort than I’m sometimes willing to put in, but in the end, simply put...I FINISH! And just maybe on that day, God wasn’t quite finished with me and needed more personal time with me to pour into me...I shudder to think, I wanted to cut that short! Fully realizing now, that what I was enduring on that walk was going to be consolation for my week past, and preparation for what I was about to undergo at a later time…could be today…maybe even this week…But God!

So on today…I urge you as we continue pressing forward…where ever you are in this particular season in your life; in your dreams, with your goals, dealing with shortcomings and even your frustrations…DON’T TAKE THE EASY WAY OUT…DON’T CONSCIOUSLY CHOOSE TO TAKE THE SHORTCUT! Slow down if you must, take minimal breaks when necessary, re-adjust your clothing even change shoes if they become too problematic…but don’t quit!

When you begin to feel like the road you are travelling on needs a short cut, or you begin to pant…gasp for air, become weary, want to throw in the towel ready-n-defeated…tired beyond words and progression…and the finish line seems nowhere in sight; let this song be your guiding force to help you keep on keeping on.

Lace up people and let’s continue to journey on…

Be Blessed!

#walk #god #dependence #traffic