New Trainers

Last week I bought some new sensible running trainers. Not because I want to run. I've never been a runner. Not because I've taken up badminton or anything like that (although I am open to that idea). Not even because I like the look of sensible running trainers. I don't. I bought them because when I walk my feet and my legs ache. My shoes are all too flat and I need something with cushioning and comfort to make my life easier. Perhaps its an age thing? It took me ages to choose my trainers. I don't like pink so women's trainers were out. I have them now. Sensible trainers with a luminous sole so people can see me when I am walking in the dark. They are comfortable and don't make my legs ache.


I went for a walk this morning in my new trainers. I didn't want to to get them muddy because it might dull down the bright yellow soles and then they would lose their look of newness, so I stuck to the pavement and then followed a concrete path that I have wanted to go down ever since I moved to see where it led. 


The path narrowed and narrowed and then it ended. In front was mud. I had three choices:


Stop still, don't move
Go back the way I came
Walk through the mud


Sometimes, to move forward, we need to get our new trainers dirty, we need to walk through the sticky mud with the expectation that it will take us somewhere. Sometimes in our own lives and in church life we don't want to do that because it looks messy, we might slip over, we don't know where it might be heading. If we don't though, perhaps we only turn round and go back to where we used to be or stop still and go stagnant. 


Where's the mud?


"So don't sit around on your hands! No more dragging your feet! Clear the path for long-distance runners so no one will trip and fall, so no one will step in a hole and sprain an ankle. Help each other out. And run for it!"                           Hebrews 12:12-13