Friday, June 13, 2008

Flip Flops

You shall walk in all the way
that the Lord your God has commanded you.


Deuteronomy 5:33a

I confidently told my daughter not to worry about my transportation for the day. After my appointment my plan was to catch the bus home. I miscalculated, however. No buses were going in my direction. Realizing that I had no other choice I began walking the three mile route home--grumbling. This had not been my plan; on my feet were only flip flops.

After one complaining mile it occurred to me that the time could be constructively used and so began thoughts on walking with God. Much like my unexpected walk home, walking with God is full of the unexpected. We make plans of how we want to live, when we want to marry, have children, engage in careers, establish financial milestones, looking ahead we even set a goal for retirement. Then suddenly that career goes bust, a spouse dies or infertility raises its painful head—our plans become as flimsy as flip flops.

Walking with God is a mystery. It’s a winding country road—you don’t know what’s ahead until you get there. It would be nice if we could have a ten mile visual. But, if we did we might take off running, leaving our walking Companion, because we could see the way by ourselves. God doesn’t want to lose us as a walking companion. The route may be different than what we planned but the companionship along the way will make it worthwhile.

I finished the remaining two miles talking with my Companion not once bothered by my flimsy flip flops.



Jesus, you walked for miles
talking to people about the
Kingdom and your Father.
Help me to stop trying to
plan a life route and instead
enjoy your companionship.
Amen.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

How descriptive are the flip-flops on our journey through life! What a great reminder that although the journey ahead is vailed, our Companion is continually by our side and will NEVER forsake us--we can only say Hallelujah! Together, we have appreciated this reading :), :). M and D

Anonymous said...

I was impressed and struck by the fact that instead of coming to the conclusion , "I should of...I could of..." when you arrived home,you said, "I can and will use this time constructively" in the midst of your long walk home. What a great reminder for us to look to the Lord right in the thick of things rather than in hind sight!