The experts say that walking is good for us. Walking will melt away tension, burn calories, and set you free from stress and worry. Once in a while I could hardly make one foot go in front of the other. I would drag myself out of bed and go downstairs for a cup of coffee, hoping that maybe this would be the day that my burdens would be lifted. Pondering on my troubles and feeling rather sorry for myself, I remembered what the experts said. I hurried then and got my best walking shoes on. I headed off to where I knew I had seen people walking.

In our small town like many others, we have a courthouse. The courthouse sits in the middle of the town. It’s five stories tall, the jailhouse on the top floor and a snack bar in the basement. The grass is thick and green, trimmed to perfection. The trees are old as the town, very large and lush. One tree sits over on the outside corner. It leans a bit and had become a favorite place for many youngsters to climb. But because of the danger involved, the County thought it best to build a wrought iron fence surrounding it. The fence is about seven to eight feet tall and to everyone’s amazement, it adds to the beauty of the tree.

So here I was taking in the morning sights and sounds. I could hear the birds chirping. Occasionally I would see a squirrel scamper up one of the old trees. I saw several of the town folks slowly strolling and chatting with each other. With all this beauty surrounding me, I still found it hard to get my mind off my troubles. I felt so sad; so heavy from all the burdens that I carried. I was on my last turn, waiting for the good that the experts talk about, when I noticed standing by the wrought iron fence, a man, looking in at the "climbing tree". His hair was uncombed, he needed a shave and his clothes were rumpled. I could tell by the look on his face that he was confused and disoriented. This little man was holding on to those wrought iron bars with both hands. He would take a couple of steps to the right and mumble something and then he would change directions and shake the bars. I took a few steps closer, thinking maybe I could hear what he was saying. My curiosity was getting to me. I had to know what he was doing and what he was saying. I took it slow and inched my way closer and closer. Sure enough, by the time I got close enough to hear him, he had made it all around the outside perimeter of that fence. Now he was shaking the bars violently and screaming at the top of his lungs. I heard him saying, "Let me out of here! Let me out of here!" I then began to realize this little man had just been released from an overnight stay from the courthouse "drunk tank". He had been set free earlier that morning, but he was having a hard time accepting that fact. I turned away and left him there screaming and shaking those bars. I proceeded on my last part of my first walk, reflecting on this scene. I began to think of how much I was like that little man. I thought of how Jesus had died to set me free. From early childhood, I knew that if we would believe in Him, He would set us free. He says, "Come unto Me, all who are heavy laden and I will give you rest, for My yoke is easy and my burden is light." Yes, I had been set free, but I was having a hard time believing that fact. I, like the little man, that very morning was standing at the bars saying "Let me out of here!" I guess somebody knows what they are talking about after all. The "experts?" Suddenly I had this little pep in my step. Free! I felt ten feet tall and one hundred pounds lighter.

Copyrighted ã by Linda Clayton 9/12/98

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