These feet are made for walking...

Five years ago, I was preparing to travel to Tanzania to spend a few precious weeks with my kids.  My daughter had spent a semester there, and my son and I were going to join her and travel around, see some highlights, and get a taste of what she was able to experience in her time there.  It was the fruition of a life long dream for me.  I have read about Africa since I was a child, and have been fascinated with the continent ever since.  Although I wasn't really sure what to expect, I was excited and looked forward to the trip with great anticipation.  It did not disappoint, but surprisingly, it was some of the small things that left the biggest impression.

When I arrived, the very first thing I noticed was the people walking.  They were everywhere, more people than vehicles, and they walk long distances without giving it a second thought.  Young people, old people, children, the elderly - they all walk.  Everywhere.  Taxis are for tourists or the wealthy, not for the average Tanzanian.  Overcrowded buses take them from city to city, but if they are going just a few miles, they walk.  It is a factor of everyday life, in stark contrast to American cities, where everyone is in their own vehicle.

As I am aging, I experience more aches and pains all the time.  It seems like some part of my body is always hurting, for one reason or another.  I am relatively young, and in decent health, and yet, I am already experiencing some of the struggle.  How much harder it would be, if I didn't have a car to take me wherever I wanted to go and had to walk everywhere?  Would I smile, as they do, greeting each other with friendly words as they pass on their way to their destination, despite the sore feet or aching hips or deep cough when they take a breath?  Or would I grumble as each step jarred my already painful joints?

Today I am thinking of those people who walk, and I am grateful for the opportunity to experience a little bit of their world.  When I feel pain in my step, I am reminded of the difficulty of their lives, and I pray that their day is easy for them.  I have walked a mile in their shoes, and I am grateful for the shoes I have.