“I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called.” Ephesians 4:1

I learned once that walking is controlled falling in forward progress. It is true, with each step we would fall flat if not for the alternate foot advancing to catch the ground in front of us. As a Christian I have fallen and tripped many times in learning how to walk and grow. One of the fun things of raising children has been to watch the stumbling and tripping of our 18 month old. She patters about wildly and will be set off balance from the wood floor to the area rug - falling sideways (albeit only 18 inches high from her amply padded bulbous area). Walking is God’s pace for the new man. Did you ever notice how you see things in nature better at a walking pace? When my wife and I walk in the evening it’s wonderful to see all the trees, and plants, and clouds, and the changing light. With each phase in the seasons we’re able to note the changes and admire them more fully. If I drive down a street in Miami in June I’ll see the Royal Poinciana trees in bloom, but I’ll miss the detail of the shape of the petals, and the richness of that vermilion orange with its dazzling vibrancy set against bright green leaves or dark gray asphalt after rain. Walking tonight, I could see young avocados on a wild tree in a vacant lot from a distance, becoming clearer and surer as I approached. “Look there’s an avocado tree - “, said I to my beloved, looking across the street and away. “Are you sure?”, came her response. Observing the shape of the leaves, and perceiving the dark green fruit suspended like pendants we both enjoyed seeing and examining something we had never noticed before on our rounds. Walking is God’s pace for examination and enjoyment. I’ve said it before, the pace at which the post-modern man lives, with his gadgets and time-saving devices, is too fast; we are always hurrying, and the Lord never told us to go at that pace. Walk. If you have a car, or bike, or you run for exercise, I’m not saying give those away and get a cane. I have a car, and I’m not giving it up. Do you think I’m going to walk everywhere?! …you’ll have to pry my cold dead hands off the steering wheel. It’s a metaphor. Ever wonder why there are billboards along the street and highways? Because you don’t notice and cannot see details at 65 mph. I think Christians also try to go too fast through spiritual life and lessons. At a running pace we only notice the billboards and learn the slogans; but life is in the details. The Spirit’s advice and teaching about this is urgent, pleading, concerned about your livelihood and focus: “I beseech you…” Even the pace in Paul’s letter to the Ephesians slows down as he changes gears from chapters 1 - 3, to chapters 4 - 6. In chapter one he blurts out in a few fevered sentences the super-abundant superlatives of all the heavenly host bestowed upon the saints of God. But then he turns to earthly practice and immediately resumes his measured walk. He sure wasn’t going very fast or far chained to a Roman guard! If you take in all that chapters 1 - 3 hold, your heart, and mind, and life swells to fullness and joy, then chapter four begins to harness all that blessing with practical, earthly application.

If you live in Miami or any other place in the world where the demands of the metropolis cause you to live a hurried, harried existence, even a struggle for survival, then you need the sound wisdom of the second half of Ephesians: Walk- worthy of the calling with which you have been called, not as the heathen; walk in charity (agape), walk as children of light, and walk wisely.