Turn Around

I have a route that I take on my morning walks. Out of habit I turn right at the end of my sidewalk and continue turning right until I am back where I started. I’ve been making this trek four or five days a week for several months. Today, I turned left.

Midway into my walk I realized that, in spite of the fact that I was walking the same roads, this was a new route. I had just turned onto a north-south road. Before me lay a long slow grade upward. When walking the opposite direction there is a downgrade. From this new vantage point the slope seemed a lot more pronounced. 

Almost simultaneously, I noticed that other views had changed. I was noticing things that I had never seen before. Things that are visible walking one direction were hidden when walking the opposite way. Shadows shifted and the light played on buildings and vegetation differently.

At the onset of this particular walk I had been thinking about two monsters that have reared their ugly heads at me on a regular basis throughout my life. Their names are fear and sadness. I’d been mentally putting on my armour for a new battle that had started the evening before as a result of looming change. I reviewed the pieces: the belt of truth, the  breastplate of righteousness, the gospel shoes, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God (Ephesians 6:14). This mental dressing led me to thoughts of a shepherd boy named David, a sling shot, and the smooth stones that slayed Goliath.

In the midst of my musings about David came the realization of the uphill grade and the changed views. I had the distinct impression that there was a lesson for me if I would quiet my mind and listen. So I listened. Two words were impressed upon me. “Turn around.” When faced with a giant, check your view. Turn around to God’s perspective. David refused to be overcome by the view. He turned around and saw the circumstances from the perspective of a mighty God. The result: Goliath fell.

It would be nice if life were so easy as to turn once and for ever be moving forward with God’s perspective. Unfortunately this is not so. David’s battle with Goliath was a one time deal, but he found himself battling other enemies that were not so easily slain. There were times he failed to turn around to see things from God’s perspective and he experienced the fallout.

This morning I took my fears and my sadness and lined them up  face to face with God’s Word. They fell and I rejoiced. If I can just remember to turn around on a daily basis, by God’s power, I will one day deliver a mortal blow to these Goliaths and they will never taunt me again.