Footfall

I have heard of putting one foot in front of the other, but I am reading Faith and Will by Julia Cameron who refers to getting through life one footfall at a time. I kind of like that. I think that word fairly represents the effort that comes with getting through life sometimes. It's more intense, heavy, and stressful than just taking a step. Sometimes we are lucky enough to dance or skip through life. But, more often than not, we take one footfall at a time. A footfall sounds like your body has to really exert itself to move forward. Like it would take conscious effort to move your foot from one place to the next. It's not as mundane as just shuffling from here to there.

I like that "footfall" still suggests movement, although labored and slow. I am not meant to stay in the same place. No matter how hard it is to move, I am meant to lift my foot up and set it down in a new place. Sometimes I think I know right where my foot will land. But, just as quickly as I begin to set it down, it falls into a totally different spot. Sometimes it lands in the least desirable places; rocks, cracks, bumps, and sometimes, ditches. Those are the worst. The ditches. Here I thought I was moving forward by taking a quick, easy step; but I end up falling and tripping, losing my footing. And then there are the times when I think that running from one place to another is the answer. I want to see how quickly I can remove myself from where I currently am. That doesn't serve me so well.

As much as I am not meant to stay in the same place, being idle and unresponsive; I am not meant to move too quickly or spontaneously. Jumping from here to there is not a successful mode of movement for me. I end up finding falling. Then it isn't just a footfall effort to move forward, but it takes a crane to get me back to standing. Then I have to soothe my aching body before I can even think about movement. Once I am standing again, it is amazing how quickly I forget that I am ineffective when I run or jump.

I have a myriad of choices to consider when I am moving from here to there. I can stand still, step, run, jump, skip, dance, or hop. But, knowing that a footfall is an option now widens my perspective of mobility. It allows for awareness and effort to be considered when making a move. When pondering this new option for getting through life, I am realizing that God's guidance would come in very handy. Before my foot falls into the ditch, before I decide to run from the place I am in, before I stand inactive or wander aimlessly; I might think of touching base with God. Then when my foot falls, He will know where I am and I will have considered where He wants me to be. Instead of thinking of the endpoint, I can focus on each moment I raise my foot.

I can put my foot down, and let it fall without God's insight or guidance. In fact, I do it all the time. I don't think by asking Him to guide me that the product of my faith will be evident. But I think the process of my faith will be more focused and concerted. If I connect with Him as my foot is lifting and falling, He might give me awareness of what the ground looks like and what obstacles may be in my path. Sometimes it will be a matter of Him just giving me the strength to move my foot so it will fall into a new spot. It might be painful and laborious. But it will be movement, and that will be enough to move me to the next day.