July 16: Morning Walk Reflections
Good morning, friends. It’s July 16th, and here I am again, walking through my neighborhood. There’s a gentle breeze this morning, which makes the heat a bit more bearable—even though later today, it’s supposed to “feel like” 100 degrees. I find that with a little breeze, even the hottest days become tolerable.
This is my second walk today. I try to walk five miles daily, especially in summer when the mornings are still welcoming. I’m definitely enjoying being outside, moving my body, and giving my mind some open space to wander.
As I walk, I like to contemplate big questions—today, two in particular:
- What does healing mean to me today?
- How does my podcast voice reflect my inner voice?
These questions were suggested to me by ChatGPT (my AI friend), which often remembers my ongoing conversations about philosophy, religion, and metaphysics. I find it fascinating that AI can pick up on themes in my life and reflect them back to me like a mirror.
Before diving into those questions, I walked past yet another water main break in the neighborhood. We’ve had at least seven or eight in the past year—likely due to aging infrastructure and flawed pipes. It’s a reminder that even the systems we rely on most can crack under pressure.
What Am I Resisting? Lessons from the Body and Beyond
One of the most pressing questions on my mind today is: What am I resisting that might actually be my next teacher?
Resistance shows up in many ways—anything that makes me argue, feel upset, or want to turn away. One area where I recognize this is my relationship with diet and exercise.
I’ve long struggled with consistency. Over the years, I’ve started and stopped various regimens, especially yoga. Yoga has always been my most satisfying form of exercise, but returning to it now, I feel the loss—my flexibility isn’t what it used to be, and my strength isn’t what it was in my early 40s.
Yet, despite this resistance, my body continually teaches me that it feels happier and healthier when I move and nourish it well. After each session, I always feel wonderful—so why do I still resist?
On the diet front, I’m trying to eat more whole, nourishing foods and move away from processed options. It’s a slow journey, but my tastes have changed over time, and I don’t crave processed foods the way I used to. Progress, not perfection.
Resistance to Injustice
Beyond my personal struggles, I find myself resisting systemic injustices in our nation—particularly the treatment of marginalized groups and immigrants. Seeing people rounded up and deported, often to countries they’ve never known, or held in detention centers—sometimes even U.S. citizens being wrongly detained—breaks my heart.
This resistance isn’t something I think I should overcome, but I do wonder: What lessons are these injustices trying to teach me?
Perhaps they’re inviting me to learn how to live as a person of conscience within a repressive system—to oppose evil without becoming consumed by it. To know my country’s shadow side deeply so that I don’t fall into blind patriotism or ethnocentrism.
I want my life to be a living testament: a bright and shining “no” to oppression and a “yes” to kindness and justice.
Soft Subversion at Work
Another space where resistance shows up is at my workplace—an evangelical university that has historically marginalized LGBTQ individuals and punished those who support them. While I love teaching and many of my colleagues, I find the leadership misguided, clinging to outdated religious views that harm rather than heal.
My way of resisting there is to quietly support the rights of all people and refuse to participate in or condone any form of harm. I call it being “softly subversive”—standing firm in my values without shouting them from the rooftops in a way that might get me fired.
Navigating Criticism and Debate
I also resist endless criticism and counter-arguments from others. Whenever I speak up against capitalism or systemic injustice, some people feel compelled to lecture me on economics or patriotism.
I value dialogue, but I tire of conversations where no one truly listens—just reacts. I want to understand people, explore what shaped their beliefs, and share my own. Yet, so many insist on proving me wrong instead of connecting.
Resistance in the Classroom
Lastly, I struggle with students who check out mentally in class—shopping online, watching sports, or having AI write their thoughts for them.
I want to meet these students where they are, teach them to truly think, and guide them beyond simply “getting by.” This generation has grown up with constant technology and instant answers but hasn’t always learned the discipline of deep reflection.
As much as I resist these challenges, perhaps they’re inviting me to grow as an educator—to find new ways to engage, inspire, and teach.
Moving Forward
As I finish this morning walk, I realize that resistance might not be an enemy after all. Instead, it’s a teacher inviting me to grow—whether that’s through my body, my community, my workplace, or my relationships.
I want to live in a way that, when people look at me, they know where I stand: for kindness, justice, and thoughtful living.
Time to pause here and continue reflecting on my second question in another entry.
Thanks for walking with me this morning.
—David
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