I’ve been learning a new Spiritual Discipline over the past few months. The simple act of going on walks. Annabelle and our dog, Jack often come with me. Annabelle actually likes it even more than Jack does.
We have a great neighborhood for walking. The whole neighborhood has sidewalks and there’s a couple of different walking trails that our neighbors frequent.
And so, we walk to the mailbox (its a community mailbox about 4 blocks away from the house). And we walk the sidewalks. And we walk the trail. And we walk to the playground.
All along the way many wonderful things happen.
I see the wonder and amazement in Annabelle’s eyes as she notices the acorn in the grass, and proceeds to stick it down her shirt for safe keeping. I see God’s creation with fresh eyes through hers and reconnect and center myself with Him.
And we see our neighbors as we walk.
Our next door neighbor (who we had over for dinner last week) recently had a heart attack. So he is working on his diet and going on daily walks. So we join him on our walks and talk about refocusing our lives on the more important things.
A neighbor just 5 doors down from us has 2 little girls a few years older than Annabelle who like to play with their mom in the front yard. So we stop and Annabelle plays with the girls while we talk about what the neighborhood could be like if we learned to care more about our neighbors.
And we walk to the mailbox where I met James, a young engaged man who lives about 6 houses down from us. We strike up a friendship over a similar line of work (my video production business) and discuss when we might be able to meet for lunch.
And we walk to the playground where Annabelle climbs quickly to the top to zoom down the slide in my lap. We meet many people at the playground where we connect around our children’s budding friendships.
And we walk back home and pass by some eager to talk to someone willing to listen, and others who are eager to complete the task of their walk and are not quite ready to be bothered.
Walking is a deeply spiritual thing. It gives us eyes to see things we never noticed before… Like the trees with branches so low you can’t pass by on the sidewalk. I wonder if this neighbor needs someone to help them this tree. Or the little boy (Trevor) playing basketball in his driveway by himself who beamed with joy when me and Annabelle told him how good he was.
Walking puts us into the lives of neighbors we might have never met otherwise.
So please pray for our walks. Pray that we have eyes to see the people of peace, and the wisdom to pass by those who don’t welcome our peace. (Luke 10)
The Bunches 