Icy Coastal Morning
The season of Lent helps us to identify the icy spots on our walk with the Lord.
Winter has been quite interesting this year. In Oregon, we have had record low snow pack, and it has been unseasonably warm. All winter, many of us have been saying, “So, when’s winter going to arrive?”
However, while visiting the Oregon Coast this week, winter arrived! On a cold morning, I got up early to take the dog out for a walk. It was icy and just above freezing. I bundled up, leashed up the dog, and off we went.
When we got out to the steep road in front of the house, I quickly realized it was iced over. As I started walking up the incline along our usual route, it occurred to me: “Maybe, this was a bad idea.” However, the dog pulled me up the hill gently and guided me to a flat area. We turned and walked down a flat road. It then occurred to me: “How am I going to get back down to the house? The road is iced over! I should not have gone this way.”
After we walked along the flat road, we turned around and came back to the steep area that leads down to the house. I decided to walk on the crunchy, icy grass on the side of the road for traction, rather than the “ice rink of a road” that I came up. However, the grass was on the opposite side of the road from the house, so I then thought: “Okay, now how do I cross the road?”
I walked a little further down and found a spot in the road where it was not iced over. After much careful tiptoeing and cautiously walking back uphill, I finally made it, thinking: “Well, that was interesting.”
This whole time, I had a sweet dog walking along with me. She guided me up the hill gently when I was afraid I would fall on the ice. And, she escorted me back down the hill, walking with me and patiently waiting for me to find my footing.
Dogs have textured paw pads, so she was not having any issues walking. Yet, she didn’t rush me down the hill. She waited and walked with me.
I believe the Lord walks with us much in the same way.
He is the gentle guide who leads us up the hills of life that seem so steep. And, He is the calming presence that escorts us back down safely. He knows the way, and He could walk so much faster than us.
Yet, He chooses to walk WITH us.
Lent just began this week. It is a beautiful, yet challenging time where we are invited to examine what in our lives is hindering our relationships with God. We are invited to fast, pray, and give alms.
I didn’t realize that an icy coastal morning walk (before having coffee!) would turn into a lesson about the Lord. Yet, it reminded me that He is always there, waiting for me. He knows the way, and He wants me to walk with Him.
The season of Lent helps us to identify the icy spots on our walk with the Lord. When we identify them, we can walk closer to Him.
In Christ,
Lauren
The idea of the Lord walking with us at our pace — not rushing ahead but patiently waiting while we find our footing — feels especially fitting for Lent. So often we imagine growth with God as dramatic progress, when much of discipleship looks more like careful steps on icy ground, learning trust one small movement at a time. The image of identifying the “icy spots” in our walk stayed with me. I’ve been reflecting on something similar — how God meets us not in perfection but in the slow companionship of the journey — if you’d like to read it here: https://theeternalnowmm.substack.com/p/eternal-love?r=71z4jh