Do You Use A Walking Stick?

It’s interesting that in our modern world we often associate walking aids with the elderly, the crippled or the injured.  However, when we see paintings, drawings or read the details of our wilderness forebears, they always are pictured with a walking stick of some kind.  From the Biblical images of Moses or the shepherds to the mountain men, they all had some kind of staff.

A walking or hiking staff is immensely useful in long distance hiking or trekking.  Walking with a single staff relieves so much weight from your knees and other joints that at the end of a single day of walking you have literally relieved tons of pressure. It is also very helpful in crossing logs, streams, muddy areas, crossing icy lakes or rivers and the list goes on and on.  It is also great for self protection from both four legged and two legged predators.  Note that the best way to use a staff for protection is not to swing it like a bat, but to jab with it as the tip applies more force per square inch this way and it is harder to block.

The proper dimensions for a hiking/walking staff is up to the individual and their needs as well as their height and age.  There are a few tips that I can share with you.

1. It should be the right size for your hand to get a firm grip. Your thumb should be able to touch your middle finger when encircling the staff at the grip area.

2. It should be at least shoulder high so that it is long enough for downhill descents when you have to shift your grip.

3. It needs to have a rubber or metal tip on the bottom to keep it from slipping.  Some have both, a metal tip which is covered by a rubber one.  The rubber one is for rock, asphalt, or surfaces which might be scratched up and the metal tip often has a point which gives good purchase on outdoor areas like dirt, mud, creek bottoms etc.

4. It should have a strap or cord.  This is to relieve hand fatigue.  The proper way is to put your hand in from the bottom of the strap, turn your hand until your hand is resting on the strap and lightly grasp the pole.

You can use an old broom handle, paint roller handle, a wooden closet rod, a stick that you cut yourself, or you could spend the money and buy a custom wood or metal staff.  It just needs to be sturdy enough to hold your weight if you need to brace yourself to keep from falling.  It should go without saying that you should make sure that the stick you choose isn’t rotten.

Spiritually speaking, many people say that faith in God is just a crutch for weak people.  The answer to that is that all of us have been crippled by sin and the wrong choices we have made.  I am not ashamed to admit that I need Jesus in my life.  Without His Love and Forgiveness, I would be permanently disabled in my spirit and soul.  When I have a need or someone that I love is sick or in trouble, I have someone that I can lean on for strength and stability.  He is the Staff of Life.  Do you have such a staff as you walk on this journey?  Remember, life is a journey we all travel.  Choose your staff wisely.

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James B