i highly recommend spending time in san francisco during the winter.  many people unfamiliar with the city think that going there in the summer makes sense.  well, it does, if you like fog; and of course the summer is great for a visit out of the valley heat!

but, who could ask for a better time then this in winter?

this is a picture from deloris park and the city in the background.  i had to actually stand in line, as many people were trying to get a picture; people out with their children and their dogs; visiting with loved ones, neighbors and strangers.

what a wonderful experience.  it was during this time away that i achieved my 5 millionth (is that really a word (?) step!  so, it got me to thinking about what one has to do to get results....

one of the things you have to do is be willing to risk.

 and i discovered, particularly in san francisco, and then when i was in berkeley, that climbing the hills gets you where you want to be . . . even thought when you first look up the hill, you're thinking, "i'm not going up there!"  but, imagine!  if you didn't climb the hill, even though it looks way too steep, you wouldn't see this picture . . . and, alas, you wouldn't get to count all those steps!

and, believe it or not, some hills actually have steps to climb.

i didn't really leave my heart in san francisco, but i think i did leave some tread!






and the other thing about walking in the city is that once you get up one hill . . . .there is always another!

 but if i hadn't climbed that hill, i wouldn't have gotten this view . . . . or so many more steps!

and then i wouldn't have appreciated the view of the oakland/berkeley hills, and the bay, and . . . .

with all this walking, one would think i'd be healthy as a horse . . . . i thought i was gonna' die!  merced is flat....we don't have hills in the central valley!  oh my goodness....i believe the bay area people ought to put up a ballot measure that could really do some good . . . . like, perhaps, investing in escalators for the really tough hills!

ok, i'm only half kidding.







the point i am making, really, is that what we invest in can be SO worth it!  this thought got me to thinking about how we live our lives, and what we believe in.  without the effort, our results can be rather frail.  we have to decide what is worth the risk.  what is worth risking for in your life?

this picture (above) is of the bell tower on the u c berkeley campus.  i love to walk around at night, and explore what can be seen in a different light.  in the daylight, we can miss so much, even though we can generally see a great deal more.  so, i invite you to do something this week that you don't usually do . . . .something that will be rewarding to your spirit, and that will feed your soul.  maybe you could invite someone to share the experience with you, and have a meaningful conversation afterwards.

 after a little r and r in the city, i headed to berkeley for a time of continuing education, the emphasis was on family.  this was a powerful reminder that we continue to think of family in a more narrow definition.  but family, biblical families as well as those through the ages on up to today, are vast and complex.

i was able to visit with my mom; well, at least i got to see that she seems content, even happy; and well cared for.

and i got to go to dinner and spend time with kristen and ben; in fact the picture to the right is the view at sunset from pacific school of religion, as i walked to downtown berkeley to meet them.  i hardly ever took my car out once i parked during my time away.  i didn't even take public transportation.....i just walked!  what would i have missed if i hadn't 'pounded the pavement'?  do you ever wonder that? 

and, of course, i did find a flat surface in berkeley; it was difficult, but, alas, i walked up to the stadium, and discovered an adjacent field that was open and available to the public; 12 walks around that puppy, and i made three additional miles!

but if i hadn't gone, i would have missed 'the bear'!  cal is so known for its bear. 

so, there you have it.  a life in the times of a pastor on foot.  and now i am back home, doing my usual routine of walking in the morning.  i had the luxury of walking any time i wished while i was away.  but now i am back into another routine that permits me to move in different ways.

i appreciated the time away, and i'm glad to be back.  but this experience does remind me that i still need to stretch myself and risk, not knowing the results.  but worth the risk, me thinks . . . .