Lessons Learnt On A Walk – Part Two

This follows the last entry looking at the lessons learnt whilst on a walk.

1. Though The Sun Shines Now It Won’t Always Shine But … I appreciate that I live among people who love the sun.  I can understand why they love the sun, seeing as though it is not a regular part of their lives for very long.  England as you may know is just as known for its variable weather as it is for it’s tendency to resolve things over a nice hot cup of tea.

Especially in the summer, there is a desperate hope that the sun will stay out.  There were times on the walk when the sun beat down its radiant heat to the satisfaction of one and all.  Yet at the very same time as brows were being wiped from the heat induced sweat, we could see some ominous clouds ahead.

This journey we are on in life is about being able to deal with variable circumstances.  Even when the rain seems as if it will never end, even at the most grim parts of the journey, as long as you’re travelling with Jesus, there remains the hope that He will bring again the brighter day.  That promise as well as the knowledge of His presence allows us not to stay downhearted when the circumstances are trying.

2. Wear The Right Footwear: The nature of the journey especially in the latter two thirds was over terrain that at times was tricky.  The path would sometimes be thin and trying.  It was pretty apparent that you would need to have the right type of footwear to deal with the varying terrain.  There were injuries that could have been avoided if the right footwear was worn.  This journey was no style parade or opportunity for product placement or sponsor endorsement.  It was certainly more a case of function over fashion.

In outlining the whole armour of God, Paul talks about having on your feet the preparation of the gospel of peace. Following Christ brings us into friendly or sometimes unfriendly terrain, it is only the gospel of peace that will enable us to negotiate the terrain successfully.  Whether accepted or rejected, the readiness to talk of the reconciliation brought by Jesus Christ, and how now we have peace with God, peace with the inner self, peace with others and peace with the world around us, can reduce the likelihood of lasting damage in the walk.

It’s not a fashionable message to give at all times, and for some it can be deemed offensive, irrelevant, condescending, arrogant or simply insulting to modern man’s intellect.  This news, however, remains the only one of its type able to rescue man and restore to Him the fullness of the humanity with which he was initially created.  More than anything else we have to offer on the journey, this message of the life and times of Jesus the Prince of Peace is the only message worth sharing on this journey.

3. Expect Injury: From blisters and getting stung by nettles, to strained limbs, aggravated body parts – however fit and prepared you are at the start of the journey, it will come as no surprise that at some point you are going to suffer some amount of hurt. The journey is not a short one and with what is to be experienced it is important to bear in mind the likelihood.

The knowledge that you can prepare yourself with your own First Aid kit is a reassurance, some of the sorting out you can do on the go.  In other cases, this is why it is so good to travel with someone who knows their stuff when it comes to how your body works and what is needed to bring healing.  There is a relief to know that sometimes on the journey there is time to deal with issues, and there is time to have things sorted out as you travel.

4. Maintaining Momentum Is Key: There is a temptation on long journeys to take frequent breaks.  As the time gets tough and the bones begin to ache, the muscles spasm and the conditions wear emotionally and mentally it is understandable that there is a desire to rest more and more.  Rest is good and recuperation is essential.

Be aware. however, that often in stopping, particularly when the pains of the journey set it, starting again gets harder and there is a greater temptation to curtail the journey or rest for too long under the strain of starting up again.  It is sometimes better to push beyond the pain barrier and keep the momentum going, for the more progress you make, the closer you get to your journey’s end.

Persisting in progressing can be a challenge when so many factors and forces suggest otherwise.  Sometimes with the best will in the world, it is important to even overrule your own feelings, thoughts and motivations.  Enjoyable and developmental though being on a journey maybe, and though you’ll have stories to tell others, the point of any journey is to reach a destination.  Anything else can be considered to be failure.  Thus finding those things that stimulate you to maintain momentum are crucial and reminding yourself of the goal and the prize that awaits you can help you to keep going against all odds.

5. Each Member On The Journey Is Designed To Make Everyone A Better Generalist For The Journey: The danger of travelling alone is that the only resources you have available are your own.  That might help for some parts of the journey, but to really make the most of the journey and heighten the likelihood of success, it’s best to walk with others who have a specialism in areas that compliment your own.  Indeed, as long as they are different to you, those specialists have gifts to enable you to become a better generalist.  Likewise the specific skill-set that you have can also serve to help others in their journey.

The benefit of travelling with others is the enriched nature of the journey that comes about because of others.  that enrichment can only enhance and change you as you allow it do so.  Suddenly you have a better understanding of an area you were not so aware of.  Your ability to talk on some area is better because you knocked about with an expert in the area. It doesn’t give you the right to say you’re the master in the trade, but it certainly takes you closer to being a jack of more of them.

There are still more lessons to share as we reach the walk’s conclusion.

For His Name’s Sake

Shalom

dmcd