When I walk with my little dog, Dusty, I greet the trail as an explorer. I eagerly set a pace and an expectation that will lend easily to discovering sights and sounds along the way, even though our walks follow similar routes throughout the week. I purposely choose to vary our daily walks so we can see signs of surprises along with the familiar bends and turns of the trail. Some days we stay in our country neighbourhood, some days we venture to city walks, or to river roads, or to park paths. We walk and we find ourselves immersed in what the walk offers us.
Dusty, do you want to go for a walk? Even as I begin the question he senses by the tone of my voice that I am inviting him to join me for his favourite activity. He recognizes the word “walk” but he also hears the upbeat lilt of my voice as I call him to come along with me. He doesn’t hesitate, he leaps up. If he finds himself on my lap, he answers with a paw and a slurp to my cheek. Yes I want to go. Yes I want to come along. If he finds himself at my feet he rises to dance around on his hind legs. Yes I am ready. Yes let’s go!
Dusty patiently let’s me adjust his walking harness, then impatiently watches me put on my walking shoes. For the next few moments he anxiously looks from the door to the garage, back to the front door as if he is wondering which walk we will take. He knows the garage door leads to the car, that leads to a drive to somewhere different, then finally to a walk. He knows the front door leads to the walks around the neighbourhood. Which one today? Where are we going?
And so it is with our lives together, my friends and family. We greet our days with a pace and an expectation, meeting daily routines or varied tasks throughout the week. We hear invitations to join the conversation, to come along for the activity, to partner up for the dance. Are we ready to go? Are we patient with ourselves as we prepare for our days? Are we impatient with others as we judge their actions in regards to how it affects us? Are we wondering which way to approach our day or which way the day will approach us?
I hope we can find our ways together, sharing what it is like to walk each day in our lives regardless of the trail, the road, the pathway, or the bends and the turns along each one. Everyday we take on our roles and we walk, even when we wish we could jump, dance or run. What does our walk require of us? Where does it take us? How are we going to get there? I hope we can be explorers and encouragers together.
Do you want to go for a walk? Come along, the “Trail is Waiting.” Let’s go walking with Dusty and Dee.
Walking With Dusty and Dee 