It’s been too long since my last post. Lots of challenges lately.

First, my day job has been quite busy and stressful. That has cut in to my exercise time, which is ironic because exercise really helps manage the stress. When things are busy, I need to amp up the walking even more. Lesson learned.

Next, there is the weather. As it gets colder, it’s just harder to get outside. So I’ve spent more time on the treadmill. It’s better than nothing, but I do miss getting outside. I have been trying to make the best of it by doing more reading on the treadmill – that’s been good.

We did have a stretch of a few great days here in NoVA with temps in the 60s, and I definitely took advantage of that. But we’re back to normal on that front: 30F this morning as I walked to meet a friend for coffee. And I’m still at the coffee shop typing this, letting it warm up just a little more before I head back home.

It is Christmas Eve, and all negatives aside, I absolutely love this time of year. All the kids are home – there is simply nothing like hearing the banter among them. Great to have them around, even if only for a short time.

And on Christmas, while I try to keep up my walking, it’s interesting – humbling – to think about Mary and Joseph having to walk from place to place. They were told there’s no room for them, on the verge of bringing their son into the human race, not fully realizing the significance of the days and years to come for them. I walk for exercise and go home to a very warm comfortable house; they walked because that’s just how they got from place to place. And they were turned away.

I’m so comfortable. Jesus left his father’s home – the ultimate comfort and glory – to experience walking through life among us, with us, as one of us. Thank you God for your son’s walk among us. And that walk continues today.