Thursday, March 26, 2015

Slice of Life Story Challenge and Spiritual Journey Thursday - What I Know For Sure - Walking with God

Doubling up today!
 
     It's Day 26 of the Slice of Life Story Challenge, started by Two Writing Teachers.  I am writing around the theme topic of "What I Know For Sure." (See Day 1 for a full explanation.)
I also look forward to Thursdays when I can publish thoughts on my spiritual journey and hear the thoughts of others on a weekly theme topic.  It has become a space for an encouraging and fortifying community to come together.  We welcome anyone who would like to join us! For the past couple of months, we've been writing around the One Little Words of our little community.  Feel free to join us on Thursdays if you'd like.  Let me know at @muellerholly.
 
This week we are writing about Mary Hill's OLW, EXERCISE
 


     I'm a walker.  I've tried other forms of exercise - yoga (don't even get me started on that one), running (ugh), Pilates, spinning, step class, Zumba, weight lifting, and on and on - but my favorite is walking.  I love to grab my iPhone, plug in my ear buds, and listen to an audio book while walking with my dog, Ben.  Shortly after we moved into this neighborhood, we went to a neighbor's house for a euchre party.  As we were making introductions, one of the men said, "Oh, you're the walker."  Yep.  That's me.  Another time a neighbor apologized to me because she had heard that her husband almost ran me over when it was dark outside!  She told him, "Honey, if it's between 6 and 8 p.m., Holly is out walking.  Be careful!"

     I've written about walking before.  There was the engagement walk I wrote about here after Libby got engaged and many posts on #ReadWalkWater, our walk that raises money for Water for South Sudan. 

     Walking has always been a part of my life.  I walked many miles hunting pheasants with my dad, walked around the campus of Miami University in the evenings even after walking to classes all day, and walked the trail near our house in Pittsburgh when we lived there.  One of the prerequisites of our future condo community was that it had to have a place to walk.  It does!  A beautiful walking trail surrounds the lake.  I walk in every season, at all points of the day, and on every vacation.  I'm looking forward to walking the beach on spring break!

    When I thought about today's One Little Word, I thought it might be difficult to find the spiritual aspect of exercise.  But when I thought about how my favorite form of exercise is walking, I thought of Jesus. Jesus was a walker, and we refer to walking when we talk about our faith.  We walk with God, embark on the Christian walk, walk through the Bible, and some participate in the Walk to Emmaus.  Jesus walked on water, walked from town to town, and walked to invite his disciples to follow Him.  He had dusty feet and worn sandals.  I like to think I would have dropped everything to walk with Him when He passed by.

"Walk in obedience to all that the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live and prosper and prolong your days in the land that you will possess." - Deuteronomy 5:33

     What I Know For Sure: I admire people who run, do yoga, climb stairs, hop on the elliptical, and dance the night away.  But I'll always be a walker.  I like to walk outdoors, look up at the sky, breathe in fresh air, and stretch my legs. Someday, I'd like to walk beside Jesus, match His strong stride, ask Him questions, or just settle into a peaceful quiet, knowing it took awhile to get there, but I had finally walked all the way home.



     Thank you to the Spiritual Journey Thursday community  for lending your One Little Words to us.  It's not the end of the road - I will still be here with a theme topic each Thursday, but I will miss our OLW explorations!  Next week our theme topic will be Maundy Thursday.  See you then!


 

19 comments:

  1. I love how you connected your exercise so well to your faith. I wasn't able to make that connection as strongly as you have. Walking!! Powerful exercise for the heart and the soul!

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  2. I am a walker, too. I love walks with Charlie. My relationship with my MIL has grown from our walks together. I hope we get to take a walk together some day.

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  3. This is just inspiring. Walking along side Jesus indeed. (I have my list of questions ready when I get the chance, I wonder if I'll really need it?!?) By the way, this song is one of the few from when I was younger that I can still play on the piano. I love it. You'll find me at the piano later (when everyone is awake) trying it out again! Thanks for a lovely post.

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  4. Isn't it wonderful to realize that you are a walker like Jesus!! I am sure he walked in all kinds of circumstances as well. Your quote at the top of the page about how we are walking each other home is also very touching. Thank you for walking with me on this journey!

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  5. A loveley reflection as usual.

    I love that you use your time to read and reflect. And the euchre reference - who knew?

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    1. I love to play euchre, Greg! I spent many hours playing it in college. ;-) My husband and I are currently in an ongoing "tournament" with both Libby and her fiance, Jamie, and Katie and her boyfriend, John. We're losing miserably. I'm sure Ed would say it was because of me! I'm not that good, but I like to play! ha.

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  6. How fun that several of us are walkers - glad you found a condo with opportunities for walking nearby. When we (our Thursday group) meet someday, let's talk a walk together. A perfect get together for Spiritual Journey bloggers! I love how you talked about Jesus being a walker too. And of course, I love that you included some music, too.

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    1. Yes, yes, yes! We'll all go on a spiritual journey walk together! :-)

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  7. Holly, thank you for reminding me that Jesus was a walker. Since I have a rotator cuff tear, I will have to forgo my usual yoga routine. Walking will suit me now that the weather is turning into a pleasant affair for us on Long Island. I will have to envision Jesus walking with me to deepen my meditation.

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    1. Carol,

      I'm so sorry to hear about the rotator cuff tear. Anything that causes our normal routines and habits to be thrown off is hard!! I hope you heal quickly!

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  8. Your post touched my heart in many ways. A little speechless.

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  9. I apologize for being away so long. This week's word is certainly one I need to take seriously both physically and spiritually. I love all your references connecting walking with Jesus. Wouldn't it be a wonderful walk together with all of us. Thank you again for providing then space.

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  10. I often say i don't believe in anything, but last night I was at quite a low over my marriage and suddenly I stopped in my tracks and said, "I give it up to you God. I don't know what to do. Just show me." And it wasn't 5 minutes before it became completely clear what I needed to say and after saying it my husband completely changed. We talked and hugged and moved to a better place. It wasn't the first time this happened, but it felt very clear why.

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    1. Wow, Kimberley! That's amazing. I do think when we let God take control, He does a much better job than we ever can. ;-) It sounds like He heard your prayers - I'm so happy for you!

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  11. I enjoyed reading your connections between walking and faith. Jesus provides such a great example of how to live our lives. During this Lent season, I have been thinking a lot about the quiet times he carved out for Himself in the mix of things. Enjoy the rest of your week.

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  12. Holly, this was beautiful and I love how you connected the issue of walking---just perfect :) I've wondered, many times, how it was that there were people who lived during Jesus' time and weren't immediately compelled to follow him. I can't imagine how they couldn't have seen or felt who he was.

    :Donna @writersideup

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