A Tale of Two Walks | Previous Challenge Entry

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TITLE: A Tale of Two Walks | Previous Challenge Entry
By Laurie Staples
10/10/19
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I relish the days I'm free to get outside and take brisk walks with friends. They are times of both physical replenishment, and often spiritual replenishment, too.

There are days when I return from my walk filled with thankfulness. We talked about things that are pure and lovely. We used the time to spur each other to to trust more, to listen more and to love God and people more. I once heard a definition for fellowship as “making God larger.” We fellowshipped and I walked in the door believing in a God bigger than all of my troubles.

But there are other days I return from walks with my soul downcast. And I wonder why. Why did this walk leave me feeling so down, so dirty? And I figured it out. It was the content of our conversation. We talked about people, God was never mentioned. Not that talking about people is always bad, lifting others up and being inspired by their faith is wonderful.

Unfortunately, our conversation was filled with gossip. Our words were true, but not kind or necessary. An old friend’s name was brought up, a friend who had hurt and betrayed me so deeply that it severed our friendship. I know as Christians we are supposed to love our enemies, forgive without reservations, pray blessings upon them and to leave vengeance to the Lord.

I had not reached that point. Instead I resented that she appeared unscathed by it all. That isn’t hurting like me and is seemingly living a perfect life. She is as beautiful as ever and able to do all the things I want to be doing, but can’t. I chose not to share what she’d done to me, but I sure did relish hearing details about her life that left gaping holes in her facade of being a paragon of virtue and wholeness, Sadly, I couldn’t resist adding to some of the critical comments.

Consequently, I came home feeling discouraged. I regretted my words. I feared they’d be repeated and reveal the bitterness I am struggling to overcome. It brought back all the painful memories and left me with a sad frame of mind. I was given the opportunity to share how God had miraculously worked things together for good and I blew it. Obedience brings blessings, I’m missing out on God’s best because I’m stuck in my pain.

One walk left me felling spiritually refreshed while the other left my spirit crushed. As a result, I am determined to depend on His power to enable me to obey His words to rejoice with those who rejoice and mourn with those who mourn. I know it’s the only way I will heal and be the person He wants me to be.

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