From Walking to Jogging

Running!  I was about to start this post with the phrase "I'm running again!", but the truth is I'm probably just jogging a bit.  But, the truth is that I'm on my way to being a runner again!

A year ago, I was pretty much constrained to a chair and a few trips each week to the Physical Therapist.  I was getting back to walking but I still needed the assistance of a walker.  In fact, I was just reflecting on how I went to Christmas Eve services last year with my walker in a crowd of thousands.  It was weird, awkward and even a bit frightening.  I nearly fell off the curb as we headed back to the car after the service.  Pushing myself through that evening was worth it.  We enjoyed nearly nine months at Copper Pointe Church after that rocky start.

A little over a month ago, on Thanksgiving Day, I "ran" for the first time since my surgery.  As I mentioned, it was probably just jogging.  But, since that day I've now done it another 4 or 5 times.  It's enjoyable to be able to do this again.  Caryl and I used to run a lot when we were first married.  We especially loved it when were on vacation and got to run at the beach.  I'm pinching myself because I live 28 blocks from the beach now and my regular place to walk or run is at Santa Monica Beach!


As I started this blog, I was just learning to walk again.  While I had hoped to run much sooner, I'm very grateful that I'm to that stage in my journey.  In a January post in this blog, I spoke of learning to walk in faith again.  It's been a slow journey there as well and I'm probably not jogging in that area yet.  But, I 'm confident that if even if it takes eleven more months, I'll start to move faster in my faith as well.

Again, I ask, in what areas of your life do you need to learn to walk again?  Do you dream of "running" in an area of your life?  What's holding you back and do you have the stamina to pick up the pace just a little at a time?  Who knows, perhaps in a year you'll be jogging or running when you didn't even think you could walk.

Is it wanting to find a new job? Or is it that you want to go back to school to finish a degree?  Do you need the courage to love your spouse again?  Do you need to get the courage to make new friends?

Whatever it is that looks like walking again to you, I pray you will have the courage to do it!  I'm reminding myself that I could barely walk a year ago but with steady, determined stamina I'm jogging and I look forward to posting about being a runner again!

Take courage!  You can walk again!