Where’s the sun in the Atlantic community? I’m sick to death of rain and gray sky. The weather’s preventing my daily walks, too. It’s all the more frustrating since I had to ride an exercise bike for six weeks after I broke my baby toe in February.
Those of you who’ve read my column for a while know walking is serious business for me – it’s my only antidepressant. And I can’t recommend it highly enough. It works, plain and simple. No matter how black my mood is I always feel clearer headed and more hopeful after a walk.
Exercise is a huge part of my life. And the side effects of my antidepressant (walking) are great: increased energy, better sleep, elevated mood, clearing my thoughts, and giving me ideas. Seriously. God has inspired me with many devotional and column ideas while walking. People driving by might notice me talking into my phone; what they don’t know is I’m dictating ideas onto an email I’ll send to myself. Writers are a little crazy. I accepted this long ago.
Last Wednesday I chanced it and took a walk during a brief glimpse of sunshine around 9 a.m. Fifteen minutes later I saw an ominous blue-gray horizon. I took longer strides and started to worry. But I wasn’t about to turn back.
By 9:30 pellets of snow stung my cheeks and melted on my lips. As I walked ahead I saw a black wire thrashing in the wind. A smashed tree limb next to it had sliced the power line. Despite my instinct to keep going until I reached the half-way point on my walk, I turned on my heel. Achieving my goal definitely wasn’t worth potential electrocution.
As I turned around, the wind suddenly became my ally, pushing me along as I walked home. The snow stopped briefly and I calmed down. The rest of my walk was pleasant, despite the cold wind. I rode my exercise bike for the remaining 14 minutes of my workout when I got home.
It’s interesting. I took a walk because of how the sky looked: sunny and blue. I got stressed out within minutes because the blue sky blew east and a blue-gray horizon loomed on the west as I walked on. When the sky turned slate gray and snow pelted my face, I started regretting leaving home. But another sign in the sky, if you will, (the dangling power line) forced me to turn around, and that same wind that made walking unpleasant aided me as I walked home.
I’m glad I caught at the opportunity to walk that day. Emotional pendulum aside, it was an opportunity to recognize that the same circumstances can hinder or help us, depending on the direction we’re heading. I also recognized God’s protection. He made sure I looked up and saw that dancing powerline. I’m so thankful I didn’t walk underneath it while it flailed in the wind.
So take a chance and walk outside between rain showers this week. I recommend bringing an umbrella because you don’t know what you’ll encounter along the route. But you’ll feel better afterward. I guarantee it.
Fallowfield United Methodist Church is hosting a spaghetti dinner to raise funds for the needy in our community on April 14 from 4 to 7 p.m. The meal includes salad, bread, and homemade pie. Please come. You’ll love the food.
Adamsville Presbyterian Church is hosting a concert by The Carriers on April 15, at 6 p.m. Cookies and beverages will be served after the concert.
Fallowfield is hosting an old-fashioned hymn sing on Sunday, April 22, at 6:30 p.m. Come and call out your favorite hymns.
Fallowfield is also hosting revival services April 25 through 27 at 6:30. We’ll feature the Reverend Doctor Michael Poke and the Reverend Doctor Fred Monk as speakers. Fallowfield’s choir, praise ensemble, and Pastor Larry Corner, and Allen Jacobs will provide music. Please come and refresh your soul or learn about Jesus for the first time.
Have a wonderful week. Blessings!