Learning to Walk

I can walk!  I can walk without crutches, without a cane, but with a limp.  After three months of inactivity I am learning to walk again.  I have a rebuilt right leg but it isn’t used to walking.  It is a bit strange.

One of the first things I noticed is that my balance is off a bit.  The fine muscle movements that keep me balanced when I stand on one foot just are not there when I stand on just my right foot.  That’s something I always took for granted so was surprised when I discovered a problem.  I never thought I would have to learn balance all over again.  I walked 2 kilometres on Saturday, another 2 on Sunday.  It felt good to be out walking but my muscles have been inactive for a long time so I felt them the next day.  As long as you keep in shape, as long as you stay in shape, all is well.  After 3 months of not being able to walk my muscles have atrophied a bit, in spite of lots of static exercise, so now I have to work hard to get back in shape and regain my balance.

As Christians we sometimes get out of shape spiritually.  Maybe we don’t pray as often as we once did.  Perhaps we don’t spend as much time in God’s Word.  Maybe we are not so careful about following His will for our life.  Suddenly one day we realize our relationship with God is not what it was or what it should be.  Just like getting out of shape physically, we can get out of shape spiritually.  We get off balance and it takes a lot of hard work, a lot of prayer, to reestablish the close relationship we had with the Lord.  When you let thing slide, for whatever reason, its not easy to get back to where you should be.  I’m learning to walk again physically  It is a good reminder that I don’t ever want to let things slide in my relationship with Jesus.