Many of you know, I started walking last week for around an hour a day. I say around an hour, because at the Y it is actually 65 minutes with the cool down, and at camp it has been any where from 45 minuts to 60 minutes. Camp time depends on how many times I see my little black friend with the white stripe and fluffy tail, and what happened the day before… I still get at least 2.5 miles in, so for a newbie at this stuff I think that is good.
The question is do you know why I am walking? It should have started a long time ago, but sometimes it takes a while for things to sink in, or for me to realize the meaning of something. I believe I started taking High Blood Pressure medicine about 12 years ago. Now I am not that old now, so 12 years ago, a young man taking High Blood Pressure medicine shoukd have been a wake up call, a change your ways boy, before you die. It was more of a, “well expected this, mom and dad both died from heart attacks and the high blood pressure thing runs in the family, no big deal.” No big deal?!?!?!
Recently I have gone to the doctor several times, and now I take 2 pills for high blood pressure everyday, a pill for high cholesterol, a pill for acid reflux, and pills for high blood sugar. I am not old enough to be taking 8 pills every morning. Something has to give. So as I was looking into the faces of my 3 beautiful girls and my wonderful wife, I decided I would do whatever it takes to be here. To be here for the first dance, to be here for graduation, to be here to walk my girls down the aisle, to be here to see my grand children… I started walking, and about a month before that I changed my eating habits. I finally got the terror of what was happening and now I will do whatever I can to keep the gifts I’ve been given in these girls as long as I can.
But these gifts will fade, and end. Just as we all will, and yet like the disciples we are slow to grasp the gift that will never fade or go away. Jesus is asking us to give up everything, and the disciples gave up their earthly possessions early on in their following of Christ, but they did not let go of everything until very late in the game. At the Last Supper they were arguing about who would be greatest. They still held onto their pride, and that is what kept them from fully experiencing the gift God gave them in Jesus. Peter said he would not run away and he would die with Jesus, but his pride got in the way. Jesus took Peter with him in the grave and forgave this sin. Jesus is waiting for you to say you love him and are ready to follow. Can you give up house, car, job, children, spouse, yourself, your pride…
What will you do?
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aSacredRebel 
Good blog, got me thinking. Although along the lines of personal experience. Having given up my religion, career. As my son and wife grow I give up those stages of my life, something about growing old gracefully.
Lighter aside, you need a dog on your walks. My dog has helped me find all sorts of “friends”. Racoons, squirels, bobcats, coyotes and Bears. So much creation to enjoy.
Pastor: Thankyou for your honesty in your Pastor’s devotion on your blog…….great realization that Jesus loves us and we need to cherish our bodies “as a temple”. After 35 years in Lutheran Ordination (eg. 300 funerals in 13 years). I after suffering from “burn out”/depression last October. As my Bishop Ron Mayan said “You healed a broken church. as interim (1 year), but it costed you your health”. Like you I have made a couple of major decisions. in the last few months and with the help of Jesus, friends, porgrams, and will power. I’m back. Will say more. someday in Oct.. God Bless. Pastor Brian