Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: Write an INSPIRATIONAL or DEVOTIONAL piece (04/26/07)
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TITLE: And on this rock.... | Previous Challenge Entry
By Greg Lauer
04/30/07 -
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A couple of years ago, I decided to start walking to work. It was only a mile and a half, door to door, so no problem. Except for the fact that I hadn’t done anything even closely resembling exercise for quite some time, my plan was perfect. And my start date, January 1, was perfectly chosen for Colorado. (I also learned that our Father will let us choke on our own choices if it will teach us a valuable lesson.)
The first day of my new plan went great, except when the wind starting smacking me in the face with its icy cold hand. I simply pulled my coat tighter around my face and neck and resolved to keep walking. And my resolve was totally steadfast…until the cramps in my calves snuck up on me. I said a quick prayer asking for God to comfort me and help me. Of course, I was actually asking for a ride to magically come along and take me to work. God, however, had other ways to help me.
There I was, walking into a stiff wind (wind chill that day, 3 degrees) and realizing that I was right at the halfway point. In other words, it was going to be painful whether I turned around or whether I kept going towards my destination. One direction would take me back where I started, admitting defeat the whole way and making victory impossible. The other direction would take me towards the goal, risking defeat but also making victory possible.
At that moment, a still and small voice inside said, “Keep going and keep your mind open to what you hear and what you see.” Who am I to argue? So I kept on walking into the stiff wind, which actually started blowing stronger and colder (I found out later the wind was coming from the north at 30 mph). And for the first few steps, I thought about just quitting and going home to get the car.
But I noticed a rock the size of a grapefruit on the shoulder of the road about 30 feet in front of me and I heard a still and small voice inside that said, “Just make it to that rock.” So, not being one to argue, I kept walking until I got to that rock, all the while glancing up to scan the entire route between myself and the “end of the line”. It was somewhat discouraging to notice that the rock was the only minor landmark along the way.
But once I got to that rock, I noticed another fairly large rock about 30 feet in front of me and the voice inside said to just keep going until I got to that next rock. This scenario repeated itself every 30 feet for a half-mile: see nothing along the path further than the next rock, walk to the next rock, see another rock just a little bit ahead, walk to the next rock, (lather, rinse, repeat, so to speak). And once I got to the stop sign at the end of the road, all I had left to do was cross the street and go into work.
Once I got to work, I prayed quietly asking God to reveal the lesson more clearly, since I’m often the last one to see the obvious. And His still and small voice told me, “Just keep moving towards the next step I reveal to you. I will always give you the strength to make it to the next checkpoint on your journey. And if the destination is one I have chosen for you, I will make sure you get there. Just learn to trust Me and I will always lead you where you need to be.”
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