Walking Club

My friend organized a weekly walking club. We’ve met every Saturday so far, for about a month. It’s never the same crew. The walkers usually pair off in groups of two or three, as our athletic abilities vary. The path is intersected by a main road. Once we cross that road, we all seem to switch walking partners, as well as on the way back to our cars. The cool part is that I believe God sets us up with who He thinks needs to encourage one another. An example was this past Saturday, April 10^th. The group that day was made up of women that had known each other for years, through different walks of life. For me, there was someone that I had known for about 30 years, as well as someone that I only met once, years ago, at a wedding. We all live in different towns and attend different churches.

I started out walking with someone that I see pretty regularly throughout the week. There was an odd number of us, so it went 3, 2, and 2. As we turned around to head back, we ended up switching partners, and it went 2, 3 (this is where I was), and 2. As I slowed to blow my nose, I ended up walking alone. I figured I really didn’t have anything to say at that moment anyway. I put in my headphones in one ear, and listened to Christian music as I walked. Eventually, I was at the back of the pack. As I was in my own little world, I noticed that one of the women in front of me was leaning to the right. So, the other woman, who didn’t really know this woman, held out her hand, and they walked hand in hand for a while. At one point, they let go, but the woman started losing her balance again, so the hand holding resumed. I thought how special that was…the love for a fellow human being. There wasn’t hesitation or awkwardness. It was 2 women in Christ, showing His love. I took a picture on my phone because of how touched I was.

Towards the end of the walk, with less than a quarter of a mile to go, the two women stopped. I caught up to them and the one that had been leaning, was having difficulty. Her back was hurting because of the pressure put on it by leaning. We flagged down the other walkers, as one was a relative to her, as we were deciding the best way to proceed. As the relative came up, I suggested that we have her put her arms around our shoulders, so we can help support her. Her relative asked if she wanted a walking stick, but she decided to try my idea. She ended up putting her right arm in mine and her left in the other woman, who had been holding her hand. That’s how we began the last leg of our walk, arm in arm in arm.

As we saw the small hill in the distance that signaled the end of the walk, the woman was thanking us. I told her that that’s what we’re here for, to lean on each other. Of course, that started a few of us to sing the Bill Wither’s song, Lean On Me…

“You just call on me brother when you need a hand
We all need somebody to lean on

I just might have a problem that you’ll understand
We all need somebody to lean on

Lean on me
When you’re not strong
And I’ll be your friend
I’ll help you carry on…

For it won’t be long
Till I’m gonna need somebody to lean on”

Now, the walks aren’t usually as dramatic as this one, but each walk does contain at least one walker who received the encouragement that they needed for a situation they are dealing with. The person who needs to ‘lean on somebody’ varies each week. However, it is so cool afterwards to reflect on the walk, sometimes with another walker, to see what God had revealed through the walk. Some of us struggle with relationships, others have depression, and others need the walk to be physically active at least once a week. The needs are as varied as the personalities. I am so thankful for this weekly fellowship we share.