Words of Hope: Solved by Walking
I found my dad’s journal where he is wrestling with what procedures to choose for cancer. One of the messages that stood out to me personally was an early church teaching he had written out, Solvitur Amblando, “solved by walking.”
It is the principle that we solve stuck situations by action. The call is to do something.
What does God ask us to do when we are stuck, in pain, or uncertain?
The action is clear.
Follow Jesus. Rejoice always. Pray continually. Give thanks in all circumstances.
I picture the blind man on the side of the road. He is stuck in his blindness. People are passing by and he sits by the side of the road day after day. He learns that Jesus is passing by. He cries out. He is told to be silent.
Yet he cries out all the more not caring what others think. He is focused only on calling out to Jesus. Jesus stands still. There are not many moments in scripture where Jesus stands still.
He calls to the blind man. Heals him and tells him to go, his faith has made him well.
He then follows Jesus on the way.
Faith to move, to cry out, to run to Jesus, to ask for what is deeply desired and then to follow.
What do I need to solve through walking?
What does following Jesus require of me?
Then they came to Jericho. And later, as He was leaving Jericho with His disciples and a large crowd, a beggar who was blind named Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, was sitting by the road. And when he heard that it was Jesus the Nazarene, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Many were sternly telling him to be quiet, but he kept crying out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” And Jesus stood still and said, “Call him here.” So they called the man who was blind, saying to him, “Take courage, stand up! He is calling for you.” And throwing off his cloak, he jumped up and came to Jesus. And replying to him, Jesus said, “What do you want Me to do for you?” And the man who was blind said to Him, “Teacher, I want to regain my sight!” And Jesus said to him, “Go; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he regained his sight and began following Him on the way. – Mark 10: 46-52
