The Beauty of the Walk

"He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."

When I first read this verse, I was certain that the prophet had inverted the stanza of his poetic recounting of the Lord's endowment of strength for a long journey. Surely he meant to say that those who look to Him for strength, begin by walking, as they slowly work themselves up to a slow trot, and then a powerful run, until they eventually take flight on wings like eagles as they grow in their faith overcoming all obstacles the world puts in their way. I can almost hear Mighty Mouse singing "Here I come to save the day!"

But alas, the prophet had it right. Not surprisingly, the scriptures always have something to teach us, if we just ask Him to speak through them. He is willing to show us the Light in His Word.

I am slowly learning that His Word is truly alive and sharper than a two edged sword. It cuts a divide between soul and spirit. It shows us, if we are willing to be taught, the difference between "wordly" wisdom and spiritual insight. Our mind and our culture, "the soul of us" would have us think that strength manifests itself in a crescendo of ever increasing ability to run faster, and fly higher so we can do more. The noble thought and desire to "do" for God can easily become a trap that can shift the focus of what our relationship with our Creator is meant to look like.

The oft misinterpreted and quoted out of context "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" quickly comes to mind here. Indeed, if His Spirit is with me, His strength fortifies me to do all things. All things, that is, as He leads. All things as I encounter the difficulties and blessings in my journey. The ability to be humble in the seasons of plenty, and hope-filled and content in the seasons of famine and perceived lack. Not all things as I see fit to do, dare I say, even for His Glory. The great things we do for God, might after all, not look anything like we have pictured in our minds. The great things we do for God are mostly measured not by what we do but by who we are becoming as we surrender to His Spirit in our journey through time and space.

The great prophet knew that the real strength in life comes in the building up to a walk. A steadfast walk hand in hand with The Savior. Strength comes as a by-product of how one travels the hardships of life. It comes in the way a single mom loves and fights to provide for her children every day through thick and thin. It comes as a father struggles to be there for his family, no matter how hard the circumstances facing him want to weaken his knees. It grows in the life of a student putting in the time and effort to study. It shows up when no one is looking, except The One. It manifests itself in the daily activities that seem to have no purpose, but yet, if you look close enough, are a purpose to themselves. It becomes visible to those who have eyes to see God in the little things as well as in the big things. It comes for those who hope in the Lord as He renews their strength, so they can soar like eagles, and feel the uplifting wind of His Spirit when they need it most. It is felt like a runners high when the race is long, but the focus on the task at hand is razor sharp. But most of all, it meets us in the mundane of the everyday. It meets us when we realize that indeed, in this long journey we call life, we have never walked alone.