Baby Steps

"Take baby steps."  That's the advice Brendan aka Hottie Hubby gave me as he and I embarked on one of his favorite short hikes this morning.  He and our youngest are hiking the Grand Canyon this fall and training for that adventure is a bit of an imperative, ya know.  If you know me a little you know, hiking is not necessarily my "thing."  But - I want to support my family the same way they support me in my powerlifting endeavors and it was an absolutely beautiful day so what did we have to lose.

There are many reasons hiking isn't one of my favorite, not the least of which is the fact that I have broken both of my legs at different times in my life. Another reason hiking makes me a little nervous is a congenital eye disease, Retinitis Pigmentosa, that can, in some individuals with the disease, ultimately lead to a complete loss of peripheral vision.  Scaling a mountain or butte when you don't always see what's beside you can be a little daunting but my husband's wisdom this morning was not only timely for our hiking adventure on sometimes small, loose rock, but also for life.

We live in a valley surrounded by buttes - some smaller, some larger but all with the potential for falling a LONG way.  It's easy to become overwhelmed by the pursuit or, even better, captivated by the view and forget that hiking is a series of not long strides, but baby steps.  Small, measured steps with feet firmly planted on big rocks.  Knowing always which side of you is down and staying on the "other" side.  

Isn't life that way, Beloved?  Baby steps?  I know how it feels to have some really big dreams and want to sprint fast to get where we want to go.  But for most of that, living live on purpose and doing those things that we are exquisitely created for means small, consistent steps.  One foot in front of the other, day after day after day.  Not marking time but  making progress.  From time to time those small steps will find us at the top of a mountain or butte taking in a pretty exquisite view.  But there's always another valley to traverse and hill to climb.  Keep walking, Beloved.  Dream your dreams, make your plans, live your purpose but know confidently that the God of creation is ordering your steps.  Keep taking them.  They add up to great views and beautiful things. 

A man's heart plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps. Proverbs 16:9 NKJV

WGL - A2

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