Learn To Walk, Walk To Learn

At home in social isolation, I’ve been revisiting favorite 80’s movies.

I recently watched What About Bob where actor Bill Murray, inspired by his psychiatrist played by Richard Dreyfuss, takes baby steps toward his mental health.

It reminded me of a few months ago when my daughter sent me a video of my granddaughter taking her first baby steps. My heart leaped in admiration. I cheered into the screen. I clapped my hands! Enthusiasm burst forth.

Naturally, there was no alternative response.

I was watching her discover a whole new reality in her life.

Imagine.

What if, as we noticed each other taking teetering and difficult steps into the new realities of these days, we cheered in appreciation?

What if, we chose to marvel at our capacity to get up after each fall, rather than focus on perceptions of lost ground and accompanying pain?

Quoting Jesus, St. John wrote, “In this world you will have trouble…”

Similarly, a Buddhist tenet proclaims, “Life is difficult.”

Though times change and realities come and go, the truth remains that from birth to passing, baby steps are required to navigate the complex path and ever-changing realities of making our way in this world.

Never so true than the trying days we find ourselves in now.

We learn to walk and walk to learn – each at our unique pace and gait.

However, those who bear witness to our steps can affect the destinations at which we arrive – and how we arrive.

We all bear witness to each other.

Admire. Clap. Cheer.

Encourage one another.

Every journey, in ease and difficulty… starts with baby steps.

The featured image is by Priscilla Du Preez on Unsplash. We are grateful for Priscilla’s generosity and admire her beautiful collection of images which she shares on Unsplash. 

Learn to Walk, Walk to Learn was originally published in Roy Salmond’s excellent newsletter – Between the Notes.  It is published here by request for Cultivating and The Cultivating Project with his gracious permission. 

Roy Salmond

Roy Salmond is a record producer, working out of his studio Whitewater Productions in Vancouver Canada. He’s also an itinerant worship leader, speaker and writer, penning the weekly arts and faith blog: Between The Notes.

www.roysalmond.com