How Do You Walk?

                So then, be careful how you walk, not as unwise people but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil. (Ephesians 5:15-16)

Some people can watch movies like John Carpenter’s The Thing or one of the movies from the Alien franchise. Maybe I could now, too, but thirty years ago when they were released, it was a big mistake. In high school and college, I made the mistake of going to a handful of movies I shouldn’t have. It took a while, but I learned that I have to be careful about what I see. I’m not saying they were bad movies, just that they were bad for me.

In my forties, I managed for a time to be careful about what I ate, and about giving my body the exercise it needed. I suspect that most of the physical problems I have now are a result of ceasing to be careful in those regards, but I’m finding it difficult to work up sufficient caring to do something about it.

Other people may not need to be as careful about what they watch or eat or do, or they may need to be careful in other ways. And there are many ways in which we should all be careful, like not texting or doing anything else while driving and not driving while under the influence of alcohol or other drugs.

Today’s passage deals with these things, but with more than these things. Sadly, it sems to me that I have not made the most of my time for most of my life. I’ve wasted time, energy, money, talent, and probably lots more that is more important than those three. According John Ortberg, one of his mentor, Dallas Willard’s regrets was that he had (or had probably) wasted so much time.

There are a number of things we need to keep in mind as wise people. God is gracious. He makes up for our failings – not necessarily in the way we want, but according to His own wisdom. We are not wise enough to know the true impact of things that we might consider a waste of time, money, talent, and energy. And, as the old saying goes, “Those who don’t learn from history are doomed to repeat it.” As I look back at my life, I find lots of reasons to emotionally flog myself. Such a waste. Such a loser. So many mistakes. So foolish. So immature, and so on.

But what have I learned from it? Not much, and not the right things, or so it seems from my perspective. I’ve learned that I am an immature, weak fool who wastes, loses, makes mistakes, and sins. Is that really learning anything? Have I learned that God is wise, omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent Love? Have I learned to love and be loved?  And does God consider the failures I regret to be real failures? Or are they just the minor tumbles taken by a toddler learning to walk?

It seems as if part of the answer to those questions comes down to whether or not I learn to walk from them. Another piece of the puzzle is the question of individuality. Something might not be a good use of my time, but be an excellent use of yours. Other things are never a waste of time for anyone, or always a waste of time for everyone.  

The biggest key seems to be our thinking about what we’re doing. I've become more conscious about how I walk physically. One ankle doesn't complain about things too much, but the other doesn't want to move in certain directions, and my ability to respond to missteps is slowing. That's why I had to have a tooth crowned this past summer. As we fail, we discover our weaknesses, we learn to be more careful.