Learning to Walk Again
By David Yeagley, Young Adult Ministries director
When my grandson was 14 months old, my wife and I had the joy of watching him for a few days. During that time, we witnessed his first steps.
For days, he had been doing all the typical pre-walking activities: pulling himself up using furniture, cruising along the couch, and pushing his toy cart. But he had yet to take a step on his own. Then, one afternoon, he stood beside a chair, gripping it with one hand while clutching a toy in the other. I stood eight feet away and said, “Bring me the toy.”
A smile spread across his face.
He let go of the chair and, laughing, took his first awkward steps into my arms. We celebrated with hugs and praise.
My grandson was walking. But more importantly, he was walking toward me.
I imagine this is how the Creator felt when He breathed life into Adam and Eve and watched them take their first steps. Each evening, as the sun set, He came to walk with them in the cool of the day. I picture those moments filled with joy, love, and encouragement—His children were walking, but most significantly, they were walking toward Him.
That makes what happens in Genesis 3 even more tragic.
Adam and Eve saw the forbidden fruit, desired it, and ate it. This willful act set them on a slow, eastward exile, moving further from God’s presence. Cain, after killing his brother, traveled even farther east. Instead of a garden, he built a city. This pattern of separation continued, leading to a world so corrupt that it was destroyed by the flood. Just when it seemed the nightmare of sin was over, Noah planted a vineyard in the post-flood world. He saw that its fruit was good and took it. The result? Drunkenness, shame, and curses. Humanity resumed its eastward march, building a city, a great tower, and continuing the cycle of sin.
We were created in a garden. According to the Gospel of John, we were redeemed in a garden. Revelation declares that we are destined for a garden. So why do we keep wandering east of Eden?
God still longs to be with us in the cool of each day, but we have forgotten how to walk.
On April 11-13, at Sunset Lake Camp, you’re invited to rediscover how to walk with your Savior. The Refresh Spiritual Retreat will provide time, space, and guidance to realign your life with the rhythmic footsteps of your Creator. A handpicked group of artists, musicians, teachers, and guides will help you take those first steps back toward the Father—whose arms are open wide, waiting to embrace you.
For more information or to register, visit www.sunsetlake.org/events.