Follow

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;

I will counsel you with my eye upon you.

—Psalm 32:8

Everybody else was a-steppin’ and a-kickin,’ and I was stuck with my feet glued to the floor, my eyes glued to my aerobics instructor’s feet. What is she doing?

For some reason, I couldn’t process it. I just couldn’t make my feet do what hers were doing. If she moved right, I’d move left. If she moved left, I’d move right. Why couldn’t I catch on to the routine? What is wrong with me?

Flashbacks of physical education class flooded my mind. Voices haunted me.

“Why didn’t you hit that ball?”

“How come you didn’t catch that?”

No one ever wanted me on their team. It’s no wonder. I am so uncoordinated.

“Kick to the back,” I heard my instructor say.

If the step didn’t change every two seconds, maybe I’d catch on to this, I argued, my throat tightening. I can’t cry over this. Stop it! I berated myself. Do what you can. Keep moving!

Thankfully, the song came to a close.

Thank You for the Walk: Giving thanks for the journey, no matter how dark, no matter how scary

Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
—1 Thessalonians 5:18 NIV

The sun was already low in the sky when my cousin, Debbie, and I set out for our after-work walk on the farm where we grew up. With an eight-year gap in our ages, we didn’t experience childhood as playmates. But for this season in our lives, we are close companions. With both of us being single, it has been nice to have someone to recount the ups and downs of the day with—nicer still to hear her childhood stories and memories of our beloved grandparents.

Both of us are on a quest to slim down, so we walk briskly to shed the pounds, but on this evening I think our pace was more about outlasting the sinking sun. Quickly, we passed the cow pasture, and then paused at the electric fence obstructing our passage to the bay. What now?

A Different Course

A man’s heart plans his course, but the LORD directs his steps.

—Proverbs 16:9 HNV

My cousin told me she couldn’t go on our usual walk on the farm this morning. Although disappointed, I decided to go alone. I needed the exercise, and it would give me some time to pray. I had a lot on mind lately. With school starting soon, I fretted over the new course I’d been assigned to teach. The subject is not familiar to me. I will have to crack the books and watch slews of videos to be prepared, which means giving up a few of my precious remaining days of summer break to devote to it. That, I resented.

I donned my sneakers and set out for my usual course along the Chaptico Bay. Gravel crunched beneath my feet as I passed my cousin’s house and made my way through the barnyard. Then I stopped dead in my tracks. What! My passage through the pasture was cut off by an electrified fence.

Tattoo Your Mark

The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.

—Proverbs 16:9

I didn’t think he’d do it.  This man, so particular, so neat and tidy, one who values what he has and works hard to keep things in like-new condition.  He’d rather maintain and fix than buy new. An old school kind of guy.  Old trucks, old cars, old movies, old music. One who wished he’d been born decades earlier. In a simpler time.  Nary a rebellious streak in him.  A former police officer who obeys every traffic rule.  Yup, that’s him. Regimented. Not a wild hair to be found. He uses coasters religiously to prevent water marks on his furniture—surely he’d never mar his body. That’s what I thought.  But there it was as plain as the nose on his face…uh, his arm…a tattoo!

He told me ahead of time he made the appointment—even described his design, but I didn’t think he’d go through with it.  But he did.  And I have to admit the tattoo suits him. A piston and wrench in crisscross fashion surrounded by music notes.  By my description of him, you probably agree that it fits.  But there’s another part of the tattoo—a pair of dice.  A gambling man? Not really. He doesn’t play the lottery or cards or slots. He doesn’t bet on the horses or the games.  And he doesn’t gamble at making decisions—not a risk-taker. Every decision is well-thought-out.

So why the dice? Because that’s Kevin’s outlook on life. Like rolling the dice, you never really know how it will turn out. You may plan well and think through every decision.  But certain situations arise that are beyond your control. And things happen so unexpectedly that it’s…well… as shocking as Kevin getting a tattoo.

Could You Give Me Directions?

By Desiree Glass

At the close of the service, Pastor called the congregation to kneel at the altar to seek God’s direction for our lives. 

 

 

My thoughts turned to technology—specifically to GPS—and how we use the device for physical direction.  Perhaps my mind is too consumed with technology (being the technology teacher that I am), for I’ve often thought I would like to text God.  “Hey, God, how are You?  Whatcha up to?”  I imagine what He might reply, “Watching over you, my child.” 

 

 

“What do You want me to do today, Lord?  Can’t You just be my GPS?  You know, tell me to walk 5 steps and then turn right.  Continue to the end of the hall; then turn left.  Get me to where You want me to be.  Direct me.”