What is your response

This morning’s walk was progressing well; I had completed 10 minutes of my targeted 30 minutes of walking.  I had only seen two cars and a single pick-up truck.  I had however heard the joyous sound of many birds greeting the fresh and bright morning.

Suddenly I hear the sound of a barking dog several hundred yards off to my left.  This was not the sound of a dog wanting to get back into the house, nor was it the sound of a dog talking to a friend in another yard.  This was the sound of a dog after something, and he was headed in my direction.

Then I saw him; a dark spotted white dog of average size was running very quickly up a long drive way.  By the time he arrived, he was still running at his top speed.  Without even thinking, I turned my left side towards him and braced myself for an attack.

As he ran by and then around me, I was relieved that I was not going to be bitten – and that I would not have to harm this dog in anyway.  At first what he did next was a surprise to me; he went over to a large weed by the side of the road and his land to “mark his territory.”

It wasn’t until I was almost finished with my morning walk that I began to understand what the dog had done.  Only one of two responses truly makes since in this event; either the dog “thought” that I was someone who had “hurt him” in the past, or the dog had been trained to “defend” the property from invaders.  When the dog discovered that I was not going to be a threat, he either showed his “pride” by making plant or he had to “relieve” his inter stress.

We have all at one time or another seen human beings respond in this same way.  When “surprised” or “confronted” there is an internal “fight or flight” response.  But sometimes there are individuals who are stuck in the aggressive mode as a “first response.”  If we can somehow understand this and give them an “extra chance,” then sometimes we can also discover that they are really very nice people.  The real question might be – “What is our response to those who act this way?”

Walking daily with thee ...

For the last several years I have been trying to walk a specific amount of time each morning.  Sometimes I’m successful, but most often I fall very short of my goal.  Maybe the best place to begin this thought process would be to review the intentions or goals.
     I was “encouraged” by my Cardiologist (and my General Practitioner) to “get more exorcise.”  They also encouraged me to eat a better diet (I’ll save that for another day!)  However, they both agreed that “body building” was out!  Since I could walk for free, I decided to begin with a “daily walk.”  My research has uncovered several items.
     First - You cannot begin with a 3 mile walk!  Having spent most of my life sitting at a desk or a soft chair in front of the TV, I’ve discovered that it is best to begin with a 10 minute walk; that is 5 minutes out and 5 minutes back.  Then on each of the following days add an additional 2 minutes to the walking time.  If the walking time becomes a bit uncomfortable, then hold at that time until it is comfortable, and then increase it until finally you are walking about an hour each day.
     Second – You will have to decide for yourself if you can or cannot walk with a “friend.”  I have tried in the past to walk with someone else and either they are too slow or they are too fast.  Maybe someday I will find someone with whom I can walk at a matched pace.
     Third – You will need to find a “comfortable” location to do your walking.  Some of the locations that I’ve been walking at have been interesting.  My favorite location is a “country road” – a location with an opportunity to see few cars, trucks, or people while at the same time seeing many trees, plants, birds, and animals.  I’ve also walking in Shopping Malls during the winter months (early morning hours are best).
     Fourth – You must be willing to make a commitment to walking at least 5 of 6 days of each week.  Sometimes there are events in each of our lives will not afford us an opportunity to “get in” our daily walk, but we have to be willing to “start over” if the need arises.  And here is where I have my hardest time keeping up with this program.  On July 1^st I once again started with my daily walking … after a 9 month break!

I really do enjoy being in the outdoors “listening to and seeing” all of the wonders that God has created for me to see, hear, and feel … and yet I wonder how long I will keep up with my walking this time?