A Long Walk

I had errands to do, but all the stores were within a 2 mile radius. I could walk, save gas, save wear and tear on the car, get exercise on a beautiful day. So I sauntered off. By the time I reached the stores, 2 miles down the road, I was dying of thirst and hungry.

Fortunately, Fresh Market does an awesome job of offering free samples on Saturday. I popped in to Fresh Market, knowing at the least, at this time of the year, I could get free hot cider.
I hit the jackpot!
They not only had free hot cider but a full turkey dinner with all the fixins' and pumpkin pie. Now admittedly, the plates were small, but I only needed enough fuel for the walk home. I gratefully took my turkey dinner and nosed about the store while eating, acting like I was going to buy something, and then snuck out, none the poorer, well fed and happy.

Don't sneer at me. You all do it too. Admit it.
I really could have afforded a small snack at Fresh Market, but that takes all the fun out of it. There is something tantalizing about free samples.

Despite having several healthy calories now safely deposited in my blood stream, I lost steam on the long walk home.
I realized, with some dismay, that I was tired.
I never used to get tired. I could walk all day, and not be tired.
It is the beginning of the end, I thought sadly. At least, I had started early enough that I would be home before dark.

Life is often a long, wearying walk. Sometimes, it really feels like we are not sure how we are going to make it home before darkness closes in. We know the route, we have walked this way before, and yet the path seems a little longer, a little rougher at times, littered with obstacles. Our muscles don't seem to do what they used to do with ease.

Right before His crucifixion, Jesus told His disciples that they still had a walk left to finish. He warned them to walk now, before darkness overtook them. I am certain they were looking at Him with bewilderment. They weren't planning on going on any walks! What on earth was He talking about? And then he added that if darkness descended before they got home, they might be lost. "Believe in the light while you have the light, so that you may become children of light," he told them.

I love that. If we want the journey to be in the sun, we must believe in the Son. If we want our path lit and our weary bodies strengthened for the task, we are told to believe in the light and walk in it! And in such a case, even if darkness descends before we reach our intended journey's end, it will not matter. We will be OF the light, and light alone dispels darkness. Just don't start off on the journey believing light does not exist, because then when darkness descends, all that will be left to you is to curse the darkness.

Believe in the light
While you have the light
So that you may become children of light.

I may just take another long walk today!

John 12:35-36 (NIV)
[35] Then Jesus told them, “You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. Whoever walks in the dark does not know where they are going. [36] Believe in the light while you have the light, so that you may become children of light.”







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