Walking 1.5.11

So, I started my walk at 1:35 p.m. today. I set my timer - God knows I would not want to walk more than 30 minutes! :)

I walked down one hall (actually I start in the middle of the hallway) that is about 80 feet long, turned left to walk another hallway, then left through the sanctuary. Out the other end of the sanctuary I tuned left down a hallway then up stairs to the second floor of the education building and down its hallway. Down a flight of stairs to the first floor, turn right and walk the hallway that is directly under the one I traveled on the second floor. When I turn right at the end of the first floor hallway, then I am in the hallway where I began. Another 40 feet of walking and I am at the starting point. In total it is much less than a mile. But, how do you measure the distance up stairs? Anyway, shouldn't the stairs count triple or something?

While I am walking I am praying (or trying to) through an "ecumenical rosary" that I found online [see http://www.ecumenicalrosary.org/]. I start with an affirmation of faith, the pray the prayer Jesus taught his disciples to pray (see Matthew 6:9-13). Then I pray the two Great Commandments like this:

"Here me Clayton! The Lord our God, The Lord is one. Father God show me how to love you with all my mind, all my spirit and all my body for you are holy and that is the greatest thing I can do.

Brother Jesus, as you have loved me, help me to love someone else (and I submit someone's name)."

This is repeated 9 more times followed by a reading of the Great Commission and a Bible passage from one of the gospels, but it may be good to read the Bible in a Year passage. Then I start all over again.

I noticed today that soon after I started walking that my throat felt like it was burning at the base of my throat. Water helped to quench that fire, so I got a drink every time I passed the water fountain. I do not feel like a camel - yet.

In the beginning the walking seemed easy enough. But, after a couple laps either my legs got heaveier or the stairs got steeper. Whew!
I noticed that the stairs are not wide enough for two people to climb side by side. If someone wanted to join me on my walk, we could go up and down the stairs single file or we could walk elsewhere. I understand that Rhonda has a route calculated for outside walking - five laps around the parking lot equal one mile. But, for now I am measureing time more than distance anyway. And time is on my side!

Until next time may God bless you.