It’s about time for Uncle Ralph to take me for our biannual walk through Wilderness State Park. We’ll meet for breakfast then head out for a 6- or 7-mile hike. Uncle Ralph is in his early 80’s and continues to be in unbelievable shape. I exercise several times a week, yet it’s all I can do to keep up with the Old Woodsman.
Those last couple of miles over ridges and through swamps I’ve found myself quietly coaching my burning legs and lungs to keep up. Keep moving. One step at a time. It’s not a sprint or even a jog, but a steady, brisk pace. I peel off layers of clothing, sneak sips of water, and love every minute of the adventure.
The Bible compares the Christian life to a walk. As Paul writes to the Colossians, “as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him” (Col. 2:6). In Bible times people walked. Not just to church. They mostly walked everywhere they went.
Walking is a patient, repeatable, day in-day out experience. The Christian life is like that. It’s not just a Sunday thing or a sometime thing; it’s daily. By God’s grace, we keep moving; one step at a time.
So, what does it mean to walk “in Christ”? When Uncle Ralph and I walk in Wilderness State Park, we’re surrounded by the beauty of the up-north woods. The air is fresh. No automobile traffic. The sights, sounds, and scents surrounding us are exhilarating—not to mention the sacred fellowship we enjoy as we walk together.
Walking in Christ is like this, where your soul is refreshed knowing Jesus surrounds you with His life and love. The walk is not always easy. But in Christ, you can make it. Keep moving. One step at a time.
Comments or Questions? Email Pastor Jeff: jeffgwilt@gmail.com
