Miles Walked 17.2 miles / 89 Degrees F.

Area: From West Covina to San Demas, and on through Laverne, Pomona, Claremont, and into Montclair.

To bed late last night…eyes fly open at 4:00 am alarm…argue with self about getting up…spirit finally wins and body rises to prepare for yet another day of walking eastward. Load and leave at 5:45 am…head toward my day’s stop point in Montclair…grab gear…lock rig…and head into Starbucks before grabbing a cab to my start place back in West Covina. Looks like a beautiful day… As I passed from cool morning air into the aroma of coffee’s brew…my day’s adventure began…

Divine Appointments

As I grabbed my tea and sat down in a brown over-stuffed chair next to a young man who appeared to be sleeping, I ventured out to ask if he was trying to get ready for his day. His eyes rose to half mast as he muttered, “…trying to wake up.” A few moments later, I asked if he was from the area. After pausing to muster his response…he said, “I was born in inner city LA’s eastside, bounced around the area my whole life, and am thinking about heading east to the Big Apple.”  I mentioned that I’d been there, found it a fascinating place, and asked him what he does. Finally, I stretched out my hand introducing myself as he reached back saying, “my name’s Dallas.” As we began to open and share our lives more deeply…his amazing journey as a young man in a challenging world began to unfold in living color before me as he sat more upright and engaged... I found his vantage point real, honest, objective, and filled with wisdom far beyond his years.

As a boy midway through grade school…it seems destiny led Dallas from inner city to the suburbs where he found himself thrown into the crossfire of brand names, girls, and conditional acceptance. Being a minimalist by nature, those early mile post encounters caused him to step back from life’s over-emphasized unimportant things to find satisfaction within. His quest propelled him through teenage storms toward emerging purpose as dreams, disappointments, displacement, and decisions forged amazing insights about life, identity, purpose, and peace….inside him. He related his struggle when asked by authority to cut the hair he was growing to donate to those less fortunate…when wondering why there were no ash trays in a church of 3,000, since he was sure he wasn’t the only one in the congregation who smoked…in knowing that who you are on the inside matters more to God than Sunday suits, slick talk, and fitting people’s grid ever will. Just then, I found myself reminded of my own life path before making my decision to give my life to Jesus without condition, so he could use me to touch an unfriendly world…

Now looking me straight in the eye with unreserved transparency…my young new friend shared that his prior bout with anger melted away as he chose to change his mind-set, to forgive, let go, and to see those who harmed him through new eyes. He went on to tell of other experiences where people had robbed him of things by force saying that, “…it is better to hand stuff over and wish others well, than it is to fight over the things they steal from you. Gazing off into the distance with glint-in-eye, past encounters replaying, revelation rising, and grace guiding his grammar…he said that, “we only find happiness by making others happy.” Sitting back, I found myself humbled by this young man who had been pummelled by life as I looked away to ponder his chosen responses to hardship and the revised outlook through which he chose to live life. Incredibly, he had navigated and survived life thus far detached from fatherly oversight only to gain a firm grip on life-changing truths many will never learn. Why? Because, one will never find what they never look for. Suddenly, my attention snapped too as Dallas said, “…it’s hard to make a cookie without a mold.” At that very moment, I thought just as it’s hard to make a cookie without a mold…it is even harder to re-make a man in God’s image without Jesus…

Points To Ponder…

Have you ever wondered why so many of us play church, rather than getting real to see and love people God’s way? Is it possible we do more to change the world by letting our hair down, being honest, and choosing to walk with everyday people who want to meet a loving God? 

Grabbing my gear, I jumped into the cab and headed east toward West Covina to walk…

Back On The Trail

My early steps today carried me forward into an area with more churches becoming visible. Once located, I made my way into several pastoral offices finding their leaders away on other business before having opportunity to sit down and speak with the local Episcopal rector. She and I had a nice visit before she was off to a luncheon scheduled earlier. Next, I came to the local Baptist church where I heard the sound of a vacuum cleaner being operated by a man inside chapel doors I found flung open wide. When he spotted me, he turned off the power and asked how he could help. I told him I was looking for the pastor and he ushered me to the office talking to me all along the way. 

After concluding my business within, I headed back outside where the gentleman I met a few moments prior motioned for me to approach. I walked over and we began to talk. As an aside…please remember that God has a sense of humour as He encourages our forward progress! Now, back to my story… As my new acquaintance asked me where I was from…I shared that I live in Yakima, WA but attend church each Sunday in Tacoma, WA. He tipped his head back to say, “Let me guess…your pastor is Kevin Gerald.” I validated his reply and told him that I attend Champions Centre in Tacoma. He took on a big grin, held out his hand, and said that Pastor Kevin had been his pastor for 10 years when he lived in Washington State about 8 or 9 years earlier. We deepened our introduction as he said, “I’m Scotty!” Then, he shared that he had played the role of centurion in the Jesus of Nazareth play previously held at Meridian where Pastor Kevin presided prior to leading Champions Centre in Tacoma. We talked a bit more, shared hearts, clasped hands, prayed, and began to part… As I turned to leave, Scotty asked me if I had plenty of food, water, or if there was anything I needed. Scotty’s gesture reflected his passion to help the homeless and reminded me of Jesus’ words in Mark 9:41 where He said, “I tell you the truth, anyone who gives you a cup of cold water because you belong to Christ will certainly not lose his reward. I assured Scotty that I was fine, thanked him, and walked onward amazed by how small God’s big world is! Of course…we all know that was just an accidental meeting…right? 

Further Down The Road

After walking through town just before hitting the next berg, I noticed a young man talking to someone in a wheel chair. I stopped when I reached them and asked them how their day was going. They replied, “Great” as they asked me about mine. I mentioned I was walking across America, handed them a card, and we began to talk.   I asked them what their names were as I introduced myself. Jacob was standing to my right and YG was seated in his rolling chair.   As Jacob left to take care of other things…I remained to talk with YG. First, I asked him what “YG” stands for. He grinned as he locked eyes and told me his grandmother had been given him the nickname which stood for “young gentleman.” His grandmother had been one of the first black ladies in the area. Engaging YG revealed that her adventuresome spirit lived in him as well. 

Like many people today, he rattled off a text message as we visited. What makes YG so special…? YG is an incredible young man because…he responded to his 2001 bout with severe infection which cost him both hands, major portions of both arms and both his legs at the hip through amputation. And yet, he operates with a smile embracing the world around him with kindness, openness, and peace as he shares his life with a passing stranger like me. He looked down at my card as he nudged his phone to reply to a text and quietly said, “I’ve been reading my bible lately.” He was real and without pretence as life and gentleness permeated his words. As I felt it time to move on, I asked him if we could pray. He said, “Sure.” So, I reached out to rest my hand on his shoulder and we prayed there on the street parting as friends.” Every step I took pulled me deeper as my heart asked God why so many able-bodied and privileged Christian people complain their way through life doubting the love of Jesus. How could an everyday man facing YG’s challenges smile as he looks beyond hardship to the best in life, while those with resource untold grumble each day? Then, I thought of times in my own journey when I chose to declare life’s inconvenience and injustice, rather than God’s goodness... 

Seems Interesting

After walking through several more towns and in light of both Scripture and today’s encounters…my interest was drawn toward the fact I was walking on Arrow Highway having no grasp of who or what will cross my path as I walk eastward each day. And yet, the Prophet Elisha’s 2nd Kings 13:17 words seem poignant when he said, “Open the east window…and…shoot...the Lord’s arrow of victory…” Remember, though we do not understand, God’s principles in Scripture help us touch heaven to change earth.

Winning the Battle...

As I neared the end of my walk today, I came to the abrupt end of the side walk in front of an old house with a beautiful yard. Stopping momentarily to survey the situation, I found my sidewalk ending, a dirt trail wearing its way through the gorgeous grass, with sidewalk resuming on the other side of the lawn. Immediately, I wondered to myself if the house owner had refused to grant the city right-of-way in their iron determination to maintain their independent grip on “stuff.” And yet, the well-worn trail cutting its way across their lawn revealed that the land owner won the battle, but lost the war as uncaring pedestrians tromped across their hollow victory each day. Just then, the Holy Spirit whispered the similarity between the scene before me and the way many of us live our lives… When was the last time you battled to think your own way by refusing to let Jesus form, pour, and finish His new pathway of thinking across the lawn of your life…concretely? Was winning the battle worth losing the war... 

More later from the highways and by-ways of life…

 In Christ,

Greg

BattleCry

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