jakorte's blog

Walking

I’ve been walking alone for quite some time now; since January 2006. And although that path had led me to some great accomplishments, it is only recently that I found an error in my route.

I noticed the mistake, or was more accurately God-smacked by it, last Saturday, May 16th, when I took part in the 5th annual Herrick Hospital Diabetes Education 5K Walk and Run. It took a very special invitation to get me there. I am blessed to have one particularly relentless friend who over the past two years has allowed me alone time, wide berths of space, and tolerated many logical-to-me sorry-I’m-not-going-to-show excuses. Even so, she has never stopped asking me to participate in her life.

Over 3 years, I have built up my daily walk to 1.5 to 2 miles per day, and average about 32 minutes/mile. The 5k or 3.1 mile fund-raiser walk was scheduled from 9:00 – 10:30. I wasn’t absolutely sure I could make it within that time frame, but with reasonable effort I was sure I could come close, and maybe end up being just few minutes late.

I didn’t count on some things. The uphill climb to the start line wasn’t something the treadmill prepared me for. Although I’ve often adjusted the incline, I’d never set it that steep! The off-road muddy wooded path around the lake was a little slippery and a lot hilly, also.

I also didn’t count on the outcome. I don’t wear a watch, and didn’t bother to pull out my phone to see how our timing was. I was too busy walking and talking, catching up, and finding parallels in our lives. Our sub-team of 4 had started out together. Soon, 2 of our 4-woman walking group were far ahead. We slower gals kept a steady pace. We were passed by two or three other walkers on the off-road uphill part of the path. I had expected to have been passed a lot sooner than that.

Coming around the lake into the open, seeing the welcoming finish-liners was a great feeling. As we joined others in the pavilion, I asked about the time. It was 10:10 am! How had it happened that I was not late, but 20 minutes early?

There have been a few people lately who have been reminding me that we as people are not meant to be alone in life. I’ve done a lot on my own. But I’ve been limited by my belief that I could go it entirely by myself. I recognize a real need for others now: to encourage me, challenge me, walk with me through and then out of this valley in my life.

It doesn’t necessarily mean I’ll suddenly be easier to get along with, or that I’ll attend every function I’m invited to. I’m like an early spring tulip – I need to be careful not to open up too fast, not to over-bloom. I need a little more time to build up the strength needed to stretch my arms wide, find surer footing, and anchor myself with deeper roots, so I cannot easily be blown over or blown apart as winds of change storm by.

On the Road to Emmaus Luke 24: 13-17
13Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. 14They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. 15As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; 16but they were kept from recognizing him.
17He asked them, "What are you discussing together as you walk along?"

In this issue: AARP Walking Guide, STEM International, I Walk The Line & Artists' Walk.
Now published: Cajun Frog legs, Slidell, LA October 2008, Faith & perpetual curiosity, poetry 2009