One of my best friends is coming with her family to visit tomorrow.  I can hardly wait.  I sent her a message Monday night reminding her to bring her walking shoes.  We used to walk most every day.  We walked over four miles the day before Rylie was born-on August 31-IN THE HEAT!

I'm really surprised that I developed such a love for walking.  My friend, Tammy and I walked despite some  discouraging events.  We had to change our route numerous times. We would cross paths with stray dogs which would become our entourage making for a host of barking as we passed dog-occupied houses. I was bit pretty badly by a dog at one point. Not all shady characters were dogs either.  One time when I wasn't able to walk with Tammy, a lady brought out her shotgun saying that her chickens were dying as a result of our dog posse.  Another time she stood at the side of the road with a bullwhip.  There was also the time that Tammy fell.  I've probably blocked other crazy moments out of my mind.

Why did I love walking so? I've gotten out of the habit of walking now, but I clearly remember.  There was something therapeutic about walking.  It was good for our health, but maybe even better for our souls.  We would talk about our kids and give movie reviews.  We talked about spiritual matters too.  Our walking time, dogs and crazy people aside, made for uninterrupted minutes.  And because we walked most every day, we were able to get into some deep conversations; soul matters.

I miss those walks.  I have walked now and then with Jason or alone.  But my walk is so infrequent, that deep conversation isn't easily reached (I'm probably panting too heavily).

There are times my walk with God is infrequent.

I am so busy after all.  Every minute is met by distraction.  He is with me, but without my recognition of his presence it's as if he's not. I know there are soul matters he wants us to talk  about if only I'd be present.

There are times my walk with God is brief.

How can my relationship with God go deeper by giving him so little of my time?  A short prayer every morning or at night is notable, but I want to walk with him on a never-ending journey. Most days Tammy and I took our long walks we ended up calling each other and talking more. Or we would even go get groceries together; thus still walking together.

I feel sure that if I had been walking alone, dog bitten or with the sun beating down on me in the heat of August, my walking would have been arduous -if I continued to walk at all.  But there's something about having someone there to keep you going; someone who with you "can laugh at the chaos to come".

I'm looking forward to walking with Tammy this week. But in thinking about the joys of walking with a friend, through both cool breeze and terror, I have decided to reconsider my most important walk.

Yes Lord, walking in in the way of your laws, we wait for you; your name and renown are the desires of our hearts.  My soul yearns for you in the night; in the morning my spirit longs for you.  -Isaiah 26:8,9

I'm going to shape-up. Through longer walks in study, prayer and meditation I'm going to develop a greater love for the journey.  Together, God and I will have our walk; one that is ever-increasing in duration and depth.

Now where are my walking shoes?