I love my morning walks. Alone, with the wind blowing through my hair. I marvel at the sky, the way the trees form an arc over my path, kissing me with leaves as I walk underneath. The sun warms my shoulders, keeping my focus upward, rather than on my feet. 

When I look down, I see no further than the next step. When I look straight ahead, I see no further than the next bend, unsure of where the path leads. But by looking upward, I know enough to keep walking, trusting that I cannot see the big picture from my perspective. So, I keep walking. 

Sometimes, I question whether or not I am on the right path. Should I turn around, and go back? Did I make a wrong turn?  How did I get here, and what if this particular path makes a fool out of me?

With writing, I seek acceptance, approval, publication. With speaking, I seek opportunity, and covet the immediate feedback of the expressions on the faces of my audience. With the job search, I seek interviews, acceptance, approval, and a paycheck. 

It is difficult to wait, and I cannot simply choose to do nothing. Instead, I keep walking. Maybe this path leads through a valley. Still, I keep walking. This path is lonely, but God is with me. I know this. I grow from this. I recognize all that falls beyond my control. I respect it. I appreciate it. I hurt from it. But, I choose to keep walking. 

On the most futile of days, I am reminded of the story of the apostles after the death of Jesus, found in John 21. Jesus had been crucified before them, and at that moment, they all felt like fools. They thought he was powerful enough to stop it; to perform some sort of miracle. So when he died, so did they, in a sense. They quickly returned to the only thing they knew before he came into their lives. Fishing. They were experts. With fishing, it was much easier to measure success than trying to introduce God to His own world. They felt like failures, and after spending a night fishing, and catching nothing, they confirmed their worst fears. Exhausted, discouraged, filled with doubt, they were too weary to even contemplate their next move. 

Jesus called out to them through the morning fog. They didn't recognize his voice, and his advice made little sense. 

"Throw your net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some fish." 

As if fish only swam on the right side of the boat? Still, maybe to prove him wrong, they did as he said. 

They were the experts, calling the shots, and were trying to do it alone. But Jesus was waiting to be acknowledged, to be invited to join them, to be a part of all that they did, even if it was simply fishing. 

As a result, the net became so full of fish that they had to tow it behind them to shore.  One of the disciples dove into the water, anxious to see Jesus face to face. 

Jesus built a fire on the shore, asking them to bring some of the fish they had caught. He then prepared breakfast for them, recognizing their most immediate need of hunger, and they ate together. 

This is how I view my morning walks. It is our time to eat together, where I splay out my concerns to Jesus, and He reassures me. He feeds me. He holds me, and then, out of love, gently directs my next steps. 

So, I walk, even when I am not sure where I am going. I have learned enough to keep walking.

Proverbs 3:6 - In all your ways, acknowledge him, and he shall direct your paths. 


Can you share a time when God changed the direction of your path?