Vol. 17 No. 28 | July 14, 2014
While visiting our son and his family in Brooklyn, New York recently we spent quite a bit of time walking. Only rode the subway one time. The rest of the time we walked. We walked to restaurants. We walked to the stores. We walked to the farmers market. We walked to the coffee shop. Mainly, we walked to parks.
While in the city the weather was unbelievably comfortable, except for a couple of days when it was oppressively hot. Going to the park on those days was not a bad walk, it was mostly down hill. Going home from the park was another story. It was hot. We were tired. We were hungry. It seemed like every street was up hill. We would turn at an intersection hoping we had reached a plateau. It seemed as though we were always walking up hill.
Life feels that way some times.
Occasionally we will have a down hill day, or week, or month. Life is easy. Like…well…a “walk in the park.” Everything comes easy. Work is easy. Relationships are easy. Marriage is easy. Being single is easy. Being a teenager is easy. Parenting is easy. School is easy. Spirituality is easy. Communication is easy. Sports are easy. Life is good!
Then, we get tired. We come to a hill. A big hill. A steep hill. And the hill goes on and on and on. We reach a plateau and think, “Ah, we made it,” only to face another hill to climb. It seems like we are always walking up hill.
In those times nothing comes easy. Life is hard. Work is hard. Relationships are hard. Marriage is hard. Being single is hard. Being a teenager is hard. Parenting is hard. School is hard. Spirituality is hard. Communication is hard. Sports are hard. Life is not good.
We want to quit. We want to stop walking. But, we can’t. If we quit, we’ll never make it home. We will never make it to the air conditioning. We’ll miss the refreshment of the cold glass of water that awaits us. We will miss the fellowship of resting with the family. We will never be able to look back and share the memories of what we experienced. We can’t quit.
For much of Jesus’ life He walked the world as if He were walking down hill in the shade. He went about teaching, touching, healing, encouraging and giving hope to weary travelers. He assured them that though in this world life is difficult, He has overcome the world. He encouraged them to walk and not quit. As He walked the people could see that there really was joy in His journey.
One day Jesus started up a hill. As He walked He carried a cross. His cross. When He could not carry it alone someone helped Him carry it to top of the hill. When He reached the top He died.
Those watching assumed his journey was a waste. We know that it was not. At the end of the upward climb was victory. At the top of the hill death was defeated. At the end of His climb the Father was glorified.
As we walk, even when it seems our walk is all uphill, we remember that because He climbed the hill victory is ours. We remember that at the top of the hill there will be reunion, restoration, refreshment, and rest.
Keep walking and remember He has walked up the hill before you, and He is walking with you now.
Tom
© Copyright 2014 Tom Norvell. All rights reserved.