In The Loop

Sitting in front of the laptop screen I felt as though I were leafing through a travel brochure. Where should I go? What would this place look like? Would there be unpleasant surprises when I got there? I wasn’t flying off on any sort of adventure or planning a trip to an exotic destination, though. The trip I was contemplating was much closer to home and would begin on my own doorstep. As I looked over the map of our city I was plotting the route I would take for a three-mile walk.

The truth is, I am a shameless homebody. I love nothing more than a nice comfortable spot on the couch nestled into a book sipping hot fragrant tea. My domestic life makes me happy and I would rather spend an hour folding laundry or washing windows than doing any form of outdoor activity. But the evidence of my leisure was gathering around my waistline so I knew that something needed to be done. I was never in fantastic shape but I did remember weighing less when I spent at least a half hour walking briskly every day. I knew I needed to duplicate this to some degree. My motivation was simple: lose weight. But since then it has become so much more than that.

After I mapped the course I determined that the best time to walk would be in the mornings after dropping off our second grader at school. So, with the boys tucked into the jogging stroller that Alisha graciously loaned me we were off. It felt daring and wonderful to walk along a busy road with semi-trucks and other cars zooming past us but the boys were more than thrilled with the rush of wind and roar of motors. Things quieted down some when we turned into a residential street with neatly mowed lawns and lovely landscaping. I talked to the boys about the tallest trees and the birds. We listened to the sounds of the birds and heard a rooster crowing. Then came another test as we had to cross a busy highway to continue our route home. By this time the boys were a little confused and asked if we could go back. The funny thing about walking that far is that, eventually, it takes longer to go back than to keep going. I know there’s a good spiritual analogy in that one! We walked past grumpy watch dogs, a horse grazing, and sheep. This was a treat for us all as it made the walk more enjoyable. With the lavender hued silhouette of the mountains ahead of us we were nearly home. And reaching our front door once again felt welcoming and deserved.

Since then I have taken the loop with my “personal trainer” aka Hubby, my school girl, and my college student. She has since reported that her feet hurt, she had a ravenous appetite, but she felt energized. It gave us time to talk and set the tone for our day. The loop has become a part of my daily life and I miss it when I don’t go. Mornings are definitely best since it’s much harder to get motivated when chores and other household tasks are screaming for attention.

God has shown me amazing things during the 50 minutes or less that it takes to walk the loop. I have been blessed, chastened, and encouraged by the time I spend in conversation with Him and with my kids. The setting is perfect and the company is the best. And the couch, books, and tea will still be at home when I get back.

Glory