As the impending departure of “normal” life is getting closer, I have taken up some new priorities to prepare for the race. One being the act of striding, rather than striving. Just in case you didn’t notice, theres only a one letter difference between “striding” and “striving” so please, if you’re like me read carefully to avoid confusion.
Allow me to explain: while striving in an overall context is not at all a bad mentality to hold, it is not the one that I’ve needed to hold throughout the present season. If you are familiar with Michael (Mike) Todd (I think is spelled correctly), then you have definitely heard this before. “Striding vs. Striving”.
Striving in the context relating to our spiritual lives – our walk with god- can be seen or described as relentless pursuit on our part. The never ending cycle of work and routine to gain new ground or to spread the word or to reach more people. Likewise to feel the need to do more, say more, have more influence, funds, etc., because of the path God has put us on and the blessings he wants us to work for. “Sprinting” rather than “walking” or “striding” per se.
Striding, although similar, is not the same. Striding is taking your time and being present on the journey, but not wasting it. It is taking the time to slow down when needed, even when it is not convenient, similar to how Jesus invested time into children and outcast women, even as he was in the midst of traveling or teaching. Striding, is taking it (even literally) one step at a time to reach the blessings each and every day that God has set aside for us on his timeline.
When looking at the life of Jesus and the roads that he traveled on from one town to the next, we see that (as stated before) he took his time to stop and love people. There are three times Jesus did this that stick out to me more than the others. The first being the time that he was shoulder to shoulder in a crowd of people walking down a busy street yet stopped to recognize the sick woman who had the faith to touch his robe. The second being the time that he asked for a drink of water from a samaritan woman, breaking the barrier between jews and samaritans along with giving her hope for new life. The third being when he rebuked his disciples and asked that they let the children approach him, preceding his statement that the kingdom belonged to them.
I don’t know how you see Jesus, but sadly, he was not an olympic speed walker… and definitely not a 4×4 sprinter. He walked like he had to be somewhere but never overlooked the people who needed his hand. He walked with his goal in mind, but stopped when he knew miracles were needed – no matter how big or how small. He walked one step at a time, and we should adopt the same lifestyle.
My goal in this is to give up control of the speed of life; give up control of my timeline. To stride and live one step at a time with the future in mind yet not idolized to the point of unhealthy tunnel vision as is often the outcome when we strive. To stride as Jesus did bringing glory and growing closer to the father one miracle at a time (most of which will probably be small with an impact unknown) rather than having the widest circle of influence possible, yet only going an inch beneath the surface. Hard to do sometimes yet necessary.
To set your pace, but allow it to be broken by the spirit.
To slow down without loosing focus or motivation.
To stride. Glory to glory for His glory, all one step at a time.
