Following our unusually heavy dump of snow, I headed out for my regular walk this morning. It was, for us, bitterly cold. While -3 C might seem like spring on the prairies, I was the only one on the track. No other walking buddies braved the early morning chill in the air.
Clipping along, I marked the number of laps I’d completed by planting footprints on the side of the track while musing on the significance of the footprints all around me. No matter where I stepped, there were prints in front of me and prints behind. Obviously others had done the trek later in the day. I was reminded that both actually and symbolically we are always following or we’re being followed in life.
While it’s not possible to reference other people’s journey when the track is dry (or more frequently, sopping wet), a snow cover makes that easy to do. Planted in the frozen slush were the evidence of shoes without treads, shoes bottomed with various thread patterns and shoe sizes from large to small. I thought of the increasing diversity of folks living in our isolated community. They’ve brought with them new ideas, new customs and to some, horror of horrors, new ways of doing things. I prayed: “Lord, give me a new appreciation for the distinctiveness of people instead of viewing their differences as reason for prejudice.”
Strange as it may sound, I also gained a new appreciation of myself: While I see “me” as most commonplace, I was reminded that God fashioned me, and you, as unique individuals designed to bear His love to our own worlds. That insight put a whole new purpose into my day’s activities.
“Uphold my steps in Your paths, that my footsteps may not slip.” (Psalm 17:5)
Here’s a reminder: Follow Jesus closely, someone’s following you.
