Week One

St. James’ participants in Christ Walk reported walking, jogging, working an exercise program, raking leaves and painting-yes, painting during the week.  Such creativity is to be admired. All have challenged themselves by creating individual and spiritual goals for what they hope to achieve during the 40 days of Lent.
 
Eight participants in Christ Walk reported a walking a total of 158 miles during the first week; an average of 3.3 miles per person per day.  Congratulations to everyone on this first milestone!  In the book Christ Walk A 40-Day Spiritual Fitness Program by Anna Fitch Courie, we are offered several walking challenges based on scripture.  For reference, the distance between Nazareth (Jesus’ hometown) and Jerusalem is 65 miles.  The Via Dolorosa (Way of Sorrows) is 88 miles.  The distance from Jerusalem to Damascus is 150 miles which reflects Paul’s journey and conversion of the road to Damascus.
 
Insights shared at our Monday evening check-in included:

• Setting goals can be challenging yet inspirational
• Find support by partnering with a friend; it helps you hold yourself accountable for your goals and provides encouragement along your journey
• Any form of exercise can be a means to clear your head of the burdens society, government, politics, advertising and others tell you about yourself, allowing for a greater focus on Christ in your life
• Allows for time for prayer and meditation awakening a feeling of wholeness and joy in our body
• The Holy Spirit dwelling within each of us is the God-spark that calls us to do great things in the world
• Our body is a temple given to us by God and we should take care to strengthen it for God’s mission; we have the gift of our body and the gift of serving God
• Mind, body and spirit are all connected and have an impact on our well-being; we need to be wholly well to do the work we are called to do

 
Anyone can join Christ Walk at any time.  If you wish to walk or exercise on your own time, feel free to do so.  If you would like add your miles to the group, you can email your weekly total to Denise Holl at drholl@yahoo.com.  If you don’t have a fitness tracker, you can count 15 minutes of exercise time as 1 mile.  We’ll meet for a group walk every Sunday throughout Lent.  We’ll gather at Coffee Hour after the 10:00 service.  We hope to see you at our Zoom discussion Monday evenings at 7 pm (zoom link is on the church calendar).  You don’t have to buy the book to participate, but if you choose to do so it is available on Amazon.  We’ll update our journal weekly, keeping track of our progress.  You will also be able to follow our journal on our website as well as find daily inspiration on Twitter and Instagram.