Words from WW Blog

“As he walked along, he saw Levi, son of Alphaeus, sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” Jesus told him, and Levi got up and followed him.” (Mark 2:14)

One of my neighbors is recovering from a fall. His daily physical therapy now entails a walk around the block, his walker moving slowly in front of him, and his eyes on sidewalk cracks and unevenness that could suddenly trip him up. Ralph is in his mid-eighties, delightful to talk to, and a retired Navy officer.

This morning I had the privilege of going with him on his walk. The lady who normally walks with him (also a neighbor and retired nurse) had planned an out-of-town trip and asked me if I would pinch-hit, or maybe pinch-walk, for her.

As I reflected on our neighborhood journey, it occurred to me that it probably resembled what it was like to walk with Jesus. Ralph was focused on putting one foot in front of the other, but he stopped several times in our stroll to talk to people. He talked to the water sprinkler repair person, he talked to his neighbor across the street, and, a while later, to the neighbor’s spouse and son. He spoke with the man who was coming out to retrieve his empty trash can and also with another person as they drove by.

In essence, a walk with Ralph was not so much about where we were going but rather who we met along the way. It wasn’t about the destination, but rather the dialogue and discussion as we went. I envision a walk with Jesus being like that. In our hurry-up world, we miss the calm moments that are the most meaningful. I remember walking with my dad in the last couple of years of his life. He was to the point where he shuffled his feet as he walked, slow and steady, never rushing to get to wherever we were going. The best part of that was not where we were heading to, but rather the walk along the way.

Jesus talked as he walked. He taught as he made his way to the next town. People joined him in the journey as he progressed. Some of his most powerful and meaningful conversations came as he walked.

I was on the receiving end of Ralph’s neighborhood education. He knows all his neighbors. As he walked, he’d tell me about a neighbor’s family, occupation, how long they had lived there, what they lke to do, where they’ve been, and interesting things he’s learned about them.

Just like Jesus. Jesus knew the people who walked with him, and Jesus knows each one of us. When we walk through our days at hyper-speed, we’re prone to miss the greatest blessings of God and others.

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This entry was posted on August 12, 2025 at 5:45 pm and is filed under Uncategorized. You can subscribe via RSS 2.0 feed to this post's comments.

Tags: Bible, Christianity, Faith, God, Jesus

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