Keeping Pace With the Lord
Yes, in joy you shall go forth,
in peace you shall be brought home;
Mountains and hills shall break out in song before you,
all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.
In place of the thornbush, the cypress shall grow,
instead of nettles, the myrtle.
This shall be to the Lord’s renown,
as an everlasting sign that shall not fail.
I took a walk the other day while listening to a podcast episode about … walking. Specifically, it was a conversation about walking as a spiritual practice. Mark Buchanan, a Protestant theologian and author of God Walk, discussed themes of attentiveness, connection, and pilgrimage, among others.
The episode resonated deeply with me, because I’d already been examining the pace of my own life—in family life, in work, in business, in creativity. I’d already been pondering themes of priorities, motivation, expectations, and control. I’d been trying to figure out how to set a pace for my days that feels exciting yet sustainable—one that gets me where I need and want to go but still allows for spontaneity, discovery, and play.
Even after a few months, I remain in a figuring-it-out phase, taking a few steps forward and a few steps back.
I keep reminding myself that I will not achieve the ever-tempting, yet ever-elusive, “balance” that we all crave. We’re made for Heaven, and “balance” (i.e., God’s perfect peace and contentment) is waiting for us there. For now, I’m doing my best to acknowledge that restlessness is part of our human experience and is, indeed, a gift—a merciful reminder that God (who is so much more capable and creative and wonderful than I am!) is in control. So, instead of setting “balance” as a goal, I’m aiming for “awake-ness.”
In the episode, Buchanan said that when you walk, your body—indeed, your very self—becomes exposed: You alone must carry any load, endure heat or cold, and take in smells and sounds. No one can do it for you, and none of it is buffered or mitigated or softened. It’s just you, putting one foot in front of the other.
I’m craving a pace that enables me to be aware of life as it really is—with its beauty and goodness, challenge and change—and where I don’t try to greedily gobble it up or, conversely, run from any of it. More than anything, I want to be able to perceive and receive the voice of the Lord, who I know is always beside me, walking with me.
Simply put, I want to keep pace with the Lord.
Here are some things that are helping me set the stride. If you’re trying to find your footing, too, keep reading, and let’s walk together.
1. Meditate on Manna
“… when the layer of dew evaporated, fine flakes were on the surface of the wilderness …” (Exodus 16:13-14).
In Exodus, the grumbling Israelites receive the gift of Manna, “fine flakes” of bread from Heaven. They’re invited to collect enough bread for each person in their household—but nothing more, lest it turn “wormy” (Exodus 16:20).
Take only what you need. You will have enough.
Again and again, the Israelites fail to heed the Lord’s words and end up with smelly bread.
I can’t get this scene out of my head. How often do I, like the Israelites, think that I know better than the Lord? Every time I grasp for an opportunity, look longingly at someone else’s (fill in the blank), or shirk my responsibilities, I’m saying to Him, “What you’ve given me isn’t enough.”
Many times, we get out of sync with the Lord simply because we fail to acknowledge what He has given us. Our most important treasures and our most urgent tasks are right in front of us. He’s directing our next steps, and we need to let Him lead.
Try it: Read through Exodus, paying special attention to how many times the Israelites falter—and how many times the Lord continues to provide. Then, listen to “Honey in the Rock” by Brook Fraser and Brandon Lake. I’ve been listening to this song so often that my almost-three-year-old has started singing along. My daily prayer has been the very last line: “Oh, how sweet, how sweet it is, to trust in you, Jesus.”
2. Monitor Your Motivations
When I get an idea to do something, I stop and think (novel, I know!): Why do I want to do this thing? Is it to grow in joy or connection with others and the Lord? Or is it because I want to boost my own ego or get more done?
Our motivations, even ego-driven ones, can be helpful! Sometimes, we do have to get things done! But we can’t let our own drivers override our obedience to the Lord’s voice.
The Lord really does know what’s best for us. But, if you’re anything like me, you may choose to do something that’s less good, because you can see the logical positive outcomes. We often pick the thing that gives us a sense of control.
Like the Israelites, we go out and try to gather more bread.
Consider your own motivations and temperament. Learn to work with and celebrate them. But also … mix it up! Think of ways you might counteract your natural tendencies, perhaps by slowing down or picking up the pace.
In my case, efficiency or ambition tend to be my natural drivers. I have to infuse some “just-because-ness” into my days: Call a friend just to chat, take a walk and turn left instead of right, or draw in my “ugly sketchbook” and don’t share it on social media.
We can become really good at the things we’re naturally good at. But, surprisingly, when we do the opposite, we can expand the realm of what’s possible. We can begin to see the fuller picture of who we are and, more importantly, of who God is.
Try it: Take an M-code assessment, and reflect on your answers. Then, in big and small ways, try opting to do things that give you less control.
3. Meander More, See More
Finally, I’ve been trying to “see” more.
I spent the early months of this year feeling creatively unmoored. Several big projects (both personal and professional) had wound down in the latter part of last year, and I suddenly felt like I had much more free time … and I didn’t know what to do with it. Lifting your foot off the pedal can feel strange. I’d been driving so quickly that now, I didn’t recognize the scenery. Where am I?
In his book, God Walk, Buchanan writes that “one of the mysteries of walking is that it keeps driving a place deeper and deeper into us and yet keeps opening up its secrets if we are attentive.”
Walking might feel like a luxury. But we can achieve this same “deep opening” Buchanan writes about by being and looking.
I’ve begun regularly sitting outside for stretches of time—10 or 20 minutes—unplugged, face warmed by the sun, looking. As the days pass, I notice more and more about my own backyard: a squirrel’s favorite crook in a tree, the first buds on the trees, my surely-dead hydrangeas somehow being … alive! When I look, I see newness and resurrection all around me. It reminds me that I too, can be made new.
The more we look, the more we see, because we become more able to see.
Try it: Return to a spot in your home or neighborhood and spend some time there, looking and learning. What do you notice? Ask the Lord to allow you to see with His eyes of possibility and wonder.
Never Alone
Remember that we—you and I—are never alone in our walk. The Lord is our perfect companion, and His is the perfect pace.
Tara Wright is an artist, Marine wife, and happy Catholic. By day, Tara creates content for Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit force behind the beloved children’s show “Sesame Street.” She is the owner of Tara Wright Studio, where she specializes in custom art and illustration, and is co-founder of Scatter and Sow. After spending several years on the east coast, Tara and her family now call Oklahoma home.