The slight and long incline

Have you ever been walking and realized that you weren't walking on flat ground but a slight incline? These long and just barely even noticeable inclines I find are sometimes harder than the big and obvious hills. I'll admit there are some occasions when planning my runs or walks I will set a route to avoid particular inclines as by the long end it is easy to feel exhausted. There are times that I find myself preferring that big hill over this long and steady journey upward as I know with the hill what it will take to get to the top. Walking/running up an incline that goes on for a long time, you do not know when you reach your end or how much you will have to give or for how long. I will say though, practicing enough on an incline, when those hills do come - they don't seem to take the wind out of you as easily. 

There are seasons in our spiritual lives that God places a mountain or a hill for us to climb, but I think more often than not, we are on the slow and steady incline up. Most days are ordinary. Most days we have small issues or challenges. Most days we are performing our daily tasks that we have been called to do in our vocation. We do not have a clear ending or vision for the end point of what we are being called to do or in our daily tasks, but we are still called to walk and move forward. Each week there will be dishes to wash and laundry to fold. But, with every dish that is washed, piece of clothing folded, and loving interaction with family or friends we have together, a slight and steady opportunity to grow in holiness lays before our feet. 

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Father God, 

As I carry my cross each day let me not be discouraged in the slow and steady incline to grow closer to you. Allow me the grace to take each step and breath recognizing that you are with me in this journey. Lord I know that though this walk may be tiring, you are simply conditioning me to be better fit for when a hill or a mountain comes my way. 

Amen.

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Simply a little pencil in God's hand,

Elizabeth