Walking Out of The Storm

I love to walk.  Jogging is too hard on my knees, so I like to walk at a brisk pace. I also love to walk out in the open air, with nature all around me. I don't really like a treadmill because, I don't walk just for the sake of exercise... 


I checked the weather and even though it looked a little overcast and cloudy I felt that inner nudge to just go for it. I started out and was enjoying the coolness of the morning and the lack of intrusion by vehicles in my journey. Then I heard it... the distant rumble of thunder. Hmmm... how close was it?  Should I turn around? Keep going?  I kept walking and again heard the thunder... this time a bit closer.  It wasn't raining, and I didn't see any lightning, but the storm clouds were gathering. As I was trying to decide which course of action to take I weighed all the factors.


I could turn around and go back to where I started from.  There was no guarantee I was going to make it. Or I could keep going on to my intended destination. Again, no guarantee I wouldn't get soaked. Either way I had to make a choice. Fear would make me turn back and I would not get to my goal. So I decided to keep going. Although the thunder stopped rumbling, I could see darker clouds forming behind me. I just picked up the pace a little and kept focused on my next steps. As I turned the corner to the home stretch, I saw how dark the clouds were that I was facing.  I was almost there and there was no other choice but to keep moving forward. I arrived... safe and sound, exhilarated and somewhat exhausted. 


I began to think about my life and the many storms that I have weathered. Some of the storms were just the sound of distant thunder. Others were full blown gales with dangerous lightning and damaging effects. So many times, the threat of the storm caused me to turn back and I got caught in it anyway. 


Then there came the time that I knew a storm was brewing and I decided that no matter what, I was moving forward anyway. I didn't care about the rumblings, nor the possibility of getting caught in it. There was no going back and I could only focus on the next step forward. Then, I turned the corner. I looked at the storm full on and defied it to make me stop or retreat. I have arrived at a place in my life that I know I am safe and sound. I am exhilarated and yes, at times, exhausted. But every step forward I took by the Grace of God, and it caused me to become stronger and more determined not to live my life out of responses to fear ever again.  What storm do you need to walk of?