Put One Foot Out in Front of The Other

Psalm 119:1-8  
א (Alef)

How blessed are those whose actions are blameless,
who obey the law of the Lord.
How blessed are those who observe God's rules,
and seek God with all their heart,
who, moreover, do no wrong,
but walk in God's ways.
You demand that your precepts
be carefully kept.
If only I were predisposed
to keep your statutes.
Then I would not be ashamed,
if I were focused on all your commands.
I will give you sincere thanks,
when I learn your just regulations.
I will keep your statutes.
Do not completely abandon me.

Reflection

     When I read this, I was reminded again that in the Hebrew Bible, "walking" is a preferred metaphor or symbol for a daily faith life. Walking is certainly something that people in biblical times did frequently. So, I have always been just a little surprised that it was chosen as a way to describe the special and spiritual connection with living out a trust in God. Sure, it is super relatable. We all know what walking looks or feels like. Even those with mobility restrictions can appropriately walk with God in their spiritual life as a hope and reality in the Great Beyond. Those who can't move here can wonderfully envision walking with God in Heaven. Yet, there is a lot more to this. Walking is good for us. Walking is considered by many experts to be the one of the best forms of exercise. There is also something about it that helps you to clear your head and think or just be yourself. Step by step, little by little, you get there. For me, this is the most significant. I think our spiritual life is a long sequence of small works to get closer to God and farther from our selfishness. We make a series of improvements that might seem almost invisible in a close up, but from a distance a good shift has occurred. 

     Even more, what if we not just imagine, but in faith see that in all aspects of life that God is turned back to us slightly with a hand out inviting us, "Walk with me." We who often chose to try to find the closest parking spot so that we walk less or any other of the long list of choices of going in the wrong direction, we are invited to walk with God. Maybe walking is such a good symbol because even when we are lost, confused, or feeling like a failure we can still put one foot out in front of the other.

Great God,

You walked with the disciples on the road to Emmaus. May your resurrected glory walk with us today and in the days ahead. Wherever we go, guide us to turn and return toward you and your path for our life and for your goodness. Be with all those whose movement is difficult this day... Strengthen those who feel unable to take one more movement. Lift us all in your foot path of peace. In your Name, we pray. Amen.