“What… do you just walk all day long?”
So asked my neighbor while pulling out of his driveway this morning. I broke routine with my walking today. Normally, I wait until the afternoon before hitting the pavement. That’s when he usually walks, our paths almost always crossing. Thus, the reason behind his humorous remark to me.
I know he didn’t really mean it… didn’t really assume that I walked all day long; it was just his way of connecting with me. But after he pulled away, I thought about his question, his false assumption—that I was an all-day walker. What would that look like… walking all day? What if my daily focus was more about the steps I am taking rather than the ones I’m not? What if life was more about moving forward rather than staying in place? How differently might my heart beat… my faith beat if I kept a steady pace 24-7? If heart-health is attached to foot work, then a full day’s worth of walking would yield a stronger foundation, don’t you think?
The problem is… I’m not an all-day walker. I’m a part-time walker. I walk some of each day… try to clock in at least an hour and 10,000 steps on my pedometer. But when the prescribed stepping is over, I am tempted to rest. To stop my forward progression in favor of the couch and the four walls that often serve as confinement rather than refreshment.
As it goes with my physical walking, so it goes with my spiritual walking. Oh that I could walk with faith, in faith all day long—an all-day faith walker! Now that kind of movement would yield some heart-health.
Faith doesn’t stop when the prescribed number of steps has been mastered. Faith keeps moving forward. Faith isn’t cultivated on the couch; faith is cultivated on the streets where movement isn’t an option but rather a requirement for those wanting to find their way home. When faith stops walking, faith stops growing. And a faith that stops growing is a faith in danger of quitting. Stopping. Relinquishing all hope for and in the promise of home.
So, for the love of home and God and heart-health, let’s get moving, friends. Let’s get off the couch of spiritual bankruptcy and start walking forward in faith. Make your goal, even as I’m making it mine, to be an all-day faith walker, so that others won’t have to wonder about our walking “all day long.” Instead, they’ll just know it’s the truth.
Movement wins. I’ll meet you on the road. As always…
Peace for the journey,
Elaine! I LOVE your new blog design! Just beautiful, my friend.
Like you, I’m a walker–I’ve taken almost daily walks for 30 years now. And like you, I will continue to walk toward Him.
Blessings to you this week!
Thanks, Julie! This is still very fresh and new to me, so there will be tweaks here and there. I’ll keep you posted…
~elaine
I agree– your blog looks great! I want to know how you walk so long– I have a pedometer and wanted to walk that many steps and always barely made 1/4! Good for you for doing it!
Also a daily walker, but I love the analogy here. Oh the heart health benefits, both physical and spiritual. Keeping in step with my Savior and walking in His footsteps, as they are always safe to follow.
Recently, like you, I decided one hour a day was not enough. I know some activities require sitting, but I try and alternate my agenda during the day so that I’m not sitting for extended periods of time. I love the call here to keep moving and not allowing my faith to quit.
“Onward Christian soldiers, marching as to war, with the cross of Jesus, going on before.”
Where He leads me, I will follow,
Joy
I really like your new blog sis, love you.
Elaine, the new look is so calming and peaceful. It is wonderful. I, too, am a walker…or at least I was until I was sidelined completely for the past year by bursitis in BOTH hips. I am hoping for recovery so I can walk again for exercise. My walk was my time to talk with Jesus and I miss that so much. Oh, I still talk to Him, but it is different. God bless you, sweet friend.
Elaine-I love your new site!! You must tell me how you made the change! You know I will be back!!
Love you friend…walking this faith journey with you 24/7 as best as I can.
Striving to Live Out Loud~Pamela
The new blog is exquisite! I love the header picture of you! It’s perfect!
One thing that especially touched me from your post of today was this: “Oh that I could walk with faith, in faith all day long—an all-day faith walker”. That’s what I would like to be also! Not just enough faith to “get by” but a 24/7 faith! Enough to flourish!
Thank you Elaine for stretching me spiritually!
Love you friend!
Marilyn
I’m a walker wanna-be. I am loving your new blog. But, the best part is reading your posts.
Sheryl
Beautiful blog, friend. The colors and design are wonderful!
A very timely post. I’m just beginning to walk again. Still dealing with the hip issue, so I must take it slow. That’s okay, though…I just want to keep moving forward. I’m not content staying in one place…physically or spiritually!
Thanks for calling today. I always enjoy our chats!
Love you.
Good morning Elaine! I just popped in before taking my walk and low and behold you are sharing your heart about walking! I also hike a little in the foothills close to my home and have such sweet fellowship with him in the trails!
Great post! I’m walking with Him, spiritually and physically….one step at a time! And the benefits….priceless!
Oh, luuuvin’ your new look….awesome!
HE IS FAITHFUL!
Love and Sweet Blessings!
Jackie
Wonderful new page! You look marvelous…must be all that physical and faith walking. I’m ready to give up my “couch-potato” ways. Could you just give me a push?
((HUGS))
I remember the song from one of my favorite childhood Christmas shows…”put one foot in front of the other and soon you’ll be walking out the door”… walking is a choice we make (or not). There is a big world out there and I am seeking to walk through the door into a life well lived.
Elaine, your new site is so peaceful! The colors are calming and the picture of you is absolutely beautiful. I am excited to see what God has in store for you (and us) over here!
Blessings to you!
Denise
Elaine, I want to be an all-day faith walker, too!
p.s. Love your header photo and also love the feature here in the comments section where after typing in the first letter of our website link, it pops up for the entire thing for us to click on. On some blogs, I actually have to cut and paste my website to fill that section in and so appreciate it when it’s set up where it appears automatically and I have to do is click on it for it to fill in.
wifeforthejourney:
I’m excited about the new blog design, even though the transition has not been entirely smooth. I hope your readers will hang in there while the “bugs” are worked out – and that they will continue to give you feedback about the good things as well as possible corrections / problems they may encounter.
You, your story, your writing and most of all your faith make visiting peaceforthejourney worth the trip. Even though your walk has not been an easy one, I glad that you are willing to share your path with the rest of us. Your committment has never been more evident! Love you,
Billy
Good morning! I really like the new blog design! Soo pretty. How I wish I could walk right now….I have always been such a walker in the past, and how I miss it. But these knees keep me soo confined. But an all day faith walker is just what I want to be! Blessings to you this week!