I was getting my daily walk in at a mall when a group of people were heading my way, directly in my path, taking up pretty much all of the walking space.  They showed no sign that they saw me, no sign of making room for me to pass on either side.  Years of conditioning that I should always be the one to give way told me to duck against the wall to let them continue hammered in my head.  I shouldn’t expect common courtesy.

But then the thought came to my mind, “What if they’re in MY way?”  Such a thought was absolutely foreign to me.  At that moment I determined to keep on walking and not be intimidated by this group.  At the very last moment they made room for me to pass.

For me this was a significant event.  It wasn’t just about walking.  What if I’m doing what God called me to do, but there are people hindering me from accomplishing that?  Maybe they aren’t physically standing in my way, but maybe they are in other ways.  The echo of discouraging or dismissive words can bar my way just as effectively.  But like Nehemiah and the exiles who returned to Jerusalem and rebuilt the city wall, my response should be to continue on my way and complete what God called me to do.  They’re not just hindering me – they’re trying to hinder the one who assigned me the task.

It could happen to any of us.  It could happen to you.

It’s been fourteen years since that happened, but I needed to be reminded of that event today.  To keep on keeping on, and not give way.  I’m comin’ through.