Walk with Your Head Down?
Keep your eyes straight ahead; ignore all sideshow distractions. Watch your step, and the road will stretch out smooth before you. (Proverbs 4:24 MSG)
I almost stepped on a copperhead snake the other day during a walk on Cedar Creek Trail in Hot Springs Village with my husband, Dan. But thanks to Dan’s sharp eyes and quick reflexes, he knocked me away from my attacker. When I caught my breath and stopped to see why my husband jerked my arm, I spotted the snake, with its head raised ready to defend itself.
Later, Dan told me that he always looks down when he walks, especially in the woods. I thought Dan looked down when he walked, so he could spot an arrowhead or rock to add to his collection. But I never really thought about walking with my head down to watch out for snakes. And I grew up in Southeast Texas—go figure.
Anyway, when I posted my snake pic on my Facebook wall, my brother, Tommy, reminded me of what his wife's grandmother always told his girls, when they walked down the trail between their homes, “Remember to walk with your head down.”
I guess I never heard Grandma Rankin’s warning. My mother always told me to walk with my chin up for good posture. And she also taught me to look up when I'm crossing a street, so I wouldn't get killed. Plus, she always told me to look up at her, when she was talking to me.
I’ve also been told that looking down when you walk was evidence of low self-esteem. And I always wanted to at least look like I had some confidence.
So, I confess, I don't usually walk with my head down, even in the woods. I tend to look a few feet ahead of me, trying to avoid stepping into animal droppings, tripping on a root, encountering a wild animal, or avoiding snakes. But my vision plan obviously failed me yesterday.
So, I thought I'd put this question out on my blog today ...
Photo/KarenJordan
Do you walk with your head down?
Posted by Karen Jordan at 9 Sep 2011 
Categories: Building Legacies, Blessed, Equipping Disiples, Encouraging Spiritual Stories
Tags: brothers distractions family fear hiking Hot Springs Village lifelong learner parents remembering Tommy Barnes writing prompt husband snakes
Categories: Building Legacies, Blessed, Equipping Disiples, Encouraging Spiritual Stories
Tags: brothers distractions family fear hiking Hot Springs Village lifelong learner parents remembering Tommy Barnes writing prompt husband snakes
I do walk with my head down! I've been so conscious of it lately, and I've been trying to correct for it by training myself to hold my head up more. But now I'm wondering if maybe I shouldn't worry so much about it! :-)
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I agree about the worrying. I don't think it ever does us any good to worry. Do you? Thanks for your comment.
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