It was last evening on Rails to Trails, somewhere in the second mile, when I was putting one foot in front of the other, head down, trying not to pay attention to the twinge in my hip and the ache in my knee, that it hit me how much I had missed on this walk. Looking straight up was this sheer glory of gold-green leaves arching against vivid blue, the trademark of early Fall evenings. A few stray leaves had already fallen to decorate the trail with their shapes and colors, and all around was the cool shaded woods, up ahead a little bridge over the creek. And it hit me all at once that faith and determination can indeed choose to take each small step, push me forward to a new place, but if I keep my head down, I will miss all the beauty with which He paints the path.

Eugene Peterson uses a phrasing in The Message version of Colossians 1 that always resonates with me, probably because I need to hear it: “We pray that you’ll have the strength to stick it out over the long haul—not the grim strength of gritting your teeth but the glory-strength God gives. It is strength that endures the unendurable and spills over into joy, thanking the Father who makes us strong enough to take part in everything bright and beautiful that he has for us.” Faith and obedience and self-discipline can keep you on the right path, but it is God’s strength that makes it sheer joy…thankfulness that paints the trail in all the glorious colors of grace.

So give me eyes to see, dear Lord. Give me ears to hear, and don’t let me miss what You are doing all around me. Let thankfulness re-focus my eyes on You. Let me walk in Your strength and be renewed day by day in this slow and steady race.