On a Morning Walk: Lawnmowers, Scripture, and Standing Firm

 This is the last in a series, Thank you for sharing Morning Walks with me.

As I approached the common area in my neighborhood, the sound of a lawnmower interrupted my thoughts. I had expected to see a worker pushing a power mower or sitting on a riding one, but when I glanced over, he was mowing while standing on an attachment. I watched as he maneuvered with ease, turned around, went in another direction, and pursued a straight path.

Another discovery on my morning walk.

No, I am not purchasing a lawnmower, or thinking about mowing my lawn, but given my interest in research (my friends depend on me to Google when we have a question in a conversation), curiosity got the best of me. When I returned home,  I investigated standing lawnmowers. According to one commercial site, apparently standing is better for your back, gets you through changing terrain quickly and easily, and is safer if you need to make a quick exit. Who knew? It turns out standing is more beneficial than sitting.

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I pondered what these new discoveries could teach me spiritually..

I confess my initial impression was standing and letting the lawnmower do the work took the easy way out. I grew up watching men in my family using manual push mowers, then graduate to power mowers. Walking in summer heat was hard work..

So along with the maintenance employee, I took a turn in direction of my thoughts-not laziness, but the benefits of standing spiritually.

• Standing is better for me and the people I care about.. Standing in unity with other Christians builds strength and purpose. “Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel.” (Philippians 1:27 ESV)
• Standing gets me through changing terrain.  In these confusing and changing times, our thoughts can take us to complaining, criticism, and even fear, In our personal challenges and life interruptions, we can stand with the Psalmist and remind ourselves, “Be still and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10 NIV). He stays with us, steadies us, and offers hope.. “The Lord himself will fight for you. Just stay calm.” (Exodus 14:14 NLT)
• Standing is safer if you need to make a quick exit in the presence of danger. Whether we are attacked by words, disappointments, temptations, or circumstances, unless we stand wearing our armor, we become vulnerable, trip, and fall. Paul’s section in Ephesians tells us, “Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil.” (Ephesians 6:11 NLT)

So along with miles, I add one more benefit to my morning walk-reminding myself to stand firm. What about you? How have you seen spiritual standing add value to your life?

If you want to learn more about Standing Firm, head over to hear Paul Smith’s sermon “Standing Firm in Fragile Times” at First Alliance Church, Lexington, KY.

“To learn strong faith is to endure great trials. I have learned my faith by standing firm amid severe testings.” George Mueller