A prayerful moment on "Let's Walk" day
Now on that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them...
Luke 24:13-15
Yesterday was "Let's Talk" day in Canada, an initiative of telecommunication company Bell which began in 2011 and has raised more than $120 million for mental health causes through the years. I've applauded Let's Talk along the way although I have since had concerns about whether Bell "walks to walk" along with "talking the talk" given reports about the pressure on employees to perform.
I wonder if as we consider mental health the slogan "Let's Walk" would be a good one as well, literally as well as metaphorically. This Groundling blog focuses on the connection between what we often term the natural world and spirituality and I regularly write about the Creator God and our place in Creation.
I am convinced that walking, along with paddling and cycling, are vital to my physical, spiritual, and emotional well-being. During the milder months of the year we tend to be on the water a lot, but in the past couple of months we have been perambulating, a fancy term for walking. The history of the word is of walking for pleasure, or for measuring out the boundaries of a forest, or a watercourse, or a church parish -- I find the latter really interesting.
During the pandemic, a time of considerable anxiety for many, walking has become a lifesaver for many and there has been an abundance of articles about the value of being on the move for mental health. I saw a piece in the New York Times yesterday about a study which suggests that if Americans walked for an extra 10 minutes a day it could, collectively, prevent more than 111,000 deaths every year.I saw another which reminds us that our bodies produce no Vitamin D indoors, even sitting next to a sunny window, while being outside for even a short time produces what we need, daily.
I would suggest that if all of us spent time outside regularly the benefits for our souls and our collective outlook would improve immeasurably. I appreciate that not everyone can do this for different reasons, including a sense of personal safety. Still, even when my mother was in her 90's and deep in the throes of dementia we would wheel her outside and point out the birds and the flowers.
Later yesterday afternoon I walked through the woods which are at the end of our street, on a path which is about four kilometres in length. There is a system of trails here and the road well travelled is where they are first accessed, but farther in we rarely see others. Yesterday I stopped at a spot where the light was coming through a stand of cedars and gave thanks, intentionally making the sign of the cross, bowing in gratitude,then lifting arms in praise, a simple exercise we engage in on most of our walks. The inspiration for this was Fred Bahnson's article about the forest churches of Ethiopia and his observation of an elderly woman who made these gestures as she entered the gate to the forested area surrounding her church building.
Of course, Jesus relied on "shank's mare" to convey himself everywhere, and important stuff happened when he went apart for prayer, or talked with his disciples while on the road. Come to think of it, both walking and talking, often at the same time, were important to Jesus. The post-resurrection walk to Emmaus is a powerful story of revelation and hope -- please note that seven miles is more than eleven kilometres, so a decent hike.
"Let's Walk" can make a difference, don't you think? The Creator, Redeemer, Comforter will be our companion. Oh yes, we've managed to get in a couple of cross-country skis in the past week, but skiiing is not mentioned in the bible, even though skis might have been helpful for shussing down the Mount of Transfiguration!
May the Christ who walks on wounded feet walk with you on the road.
May the Christ who serves with wounded hands stretch out your hands to serve.
May the Christ who loves with a wounded heart open your hearts to love.
May you see the face of
Christ in everyone you meet,
and may everyone you meet see the face of Christ in you.
Voices United 349
Road to Emmaus -- Michael Torevell
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