I try to get outside walking every day for both fresh air and exercise. One day I felt God telling me that walking is a metaphor living. When I am walking through situations and my path seems rocky, uneven, and treacherous, all I can see is the dirt, rocks, and garbage of the nitty gritty little things obscuring my vision and consuming my thoughts. I can easily become distracted and focused on the puddles and “dog poop” at the side of the road.
I felt I needed to take my eyes off my feet, Stop looking down at the problems in the moment and instead look up, to where I’m going. It was as if he was telling me to “Look up, dear one, look up”. Gaze ahead at the road in front, where I can’t see the small rocks and gravel that may trip me, but gaze forward into the distance to see where I hope to go. The road doesn’t look as formidable from the distance. God has given me vision and hope, and by looking forward and ahead I can see my path without minor distractions.
Another gentle nudge…..Better yet, look up, way up…..up to the trees. See the great tree tops waving in the breeze. The birds flying past overhead without a care in the world. See the clear, blue sky that stretches to the outer limits of your vision. Watch the fluffy white clouds that float past on the breeze. Look up to the heavens where our hope lies and where our help comes from.
Psalm 121 promises “I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip—he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.The Lord watches over you—the Lord is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep you from all harm—he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.”
Keep walking. Put one foot in front of the other. Breathe deeply. Rejoice. Keep looking up. Let the pebbles of the day not interfere with the path forward. Keep gazing upward. Don’t lose the hope that is from heaven. Live in the promise that God is with you on the road. He is guiding your feet. He is clearing the path. He is paving the way. For His glory, through you. One step at a time, despite the rocky path.
