Since I can't go to the gym at the moment because of the physical therapy for my knee, I have developed the new habit of rushing home from work to walk the dog. These walks hardly qualify as exercise since long-haired miniature dachshunds are not known for their long legs or endurance, but they do clear my mind. I've learned on these walks that my 2 1/2 year old dog knows a lot more about living than I do after 29 years after practice. Unlike me, my dog does not measure her walks in terms of miles covered or calories burned. While I'm using our time together to unwind from work, my dog uses our time to engage with God's creation using all five of her senses as much as possible. And I do mean all five senses! My dog savors every moment we are outside, taking every step unapologetically, even when her frolicking requires us to stop at every other tree. I envy her carefree appreciation for living. While I am busy doing, my dog has mastered the art of being.
In addition to bonding with the dog on our walks, these last few days, I've been enjoying the changing seasons. While my sinuses certainly don't fully appreciate springtime in Maryland, the rest of body does. One of my two favorite times of the year occurs as creation slowly rouses from its winter slumber, and all that was dormant begins to burst into new life again. The changes the spring brings remind me of the countless new beginnings that God offers His children. No matter how many times we stray or fall, He restores us to new life in Him, to our beauty in Him, just as the flowers and the trees are restored to new life and colorful beauty each spring.
Walking the dog has simply given me a great excuse to be outside. In the fall, I am outside every day coaching, but during the other three seasons, I typically spend my afternoons safely tucked away in a climate-controlled gym. This year, I am remembering how much I enjoy the outdoors. The community where our new house is located maintains wonderful trails through the woods around our neighborhood, and I've enjoyed exploring these quiet pathways and marveling at the first breaths of warm air on my arms and the sight and sound of birds dancing and singing through the trees. Experiening the complex beauty of God's creation always draws me closer to Him who created it all.
Posted by Kim at March 14, 2007 07:43 AM