“To walk in nature is to witness a thousand miracles.” – Mary Davis

“Those who walk with God always reach their destination.” – Henry Ford

“Walking brings me back to myself.” – Laurette Mortimer

“All truly great thoughts are conceived while walking.” – Nietzsche

In my own life, the value of walking has been a powerful discovery – one filled with transformation and a deeper form of self-reflection.  By far, the greatest discovery has been a closer connection with God – a bonding that occurs by talking, listening and observing as we walk together side by side.

It started when my life fell apart.  Walking seemed to be a way of placing distance between myself and all the issues surrounding me.  Looking back, it started on a treadmill in a busy gym.  I could walk for hours!  The more I walked, the more the problems seemed to fade.  As Ms. Mortimer suggests above, walking had a way of taking me back to my true self – the origins and core of who I really was deep inside.

When I moved to Utah, walking became an essential part of my lifestyle.  I found such peace and contentment in all the beauty that surrounded me.  I learned so much about myself there and my connection to God became stronger with each hiking excursion and each encounter with nature.

When you think about where we tend to spend most of our time, it’s in a man-made world of buildings, concrete streets, and hand-held electronic devices.  When you walk away from those things and decide to enter nature, a God-created world, things take on a whole new meaning.  You become a witness to the thousand miracles that Mary Davis describes in her quote. 

In Utah, I connected with those miracles and began to realize that if God created this world with such detail and intricacy, then He could instigate a miracle within my own life – transforming it into something beautiful again.

Recently, he has done just that!  I have met a wonderful woman named Julie who LOVES to walk as much as I do.  All those years of walking alone have come to an end.  God has introduced me to a walking partner who means the world to me!  I’m excited for each new adventure to come and all the walks that we will share together.

So, what are some aspects of walking that make it such a special activity?  How does walking transform us?  Is there a particular way to walk that accentuates all its benefits and its value to us?

Walking is the Proper Pace of Life

“Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.” – Lao Tzu

“Adopt the pace of nature.  Her secret is patience.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Much of life is filled with fast-paced routines and too many activities packed into too little time.  Many people “run” through life as a form of distraction – never wanting to think about the deeper purposes that lie at the heart of why they are here.

Like Nietzsche suggests above, walking has a way of creating an environment of deeper thought.  It allows us to think more clearly about the situations and circumstances we currently face. 

Life is meant to be lived at the pace of walking – living the current moment thoroughly and focused solely on the next step we are about to take.  Too often, the fast pace of life has us focused on what lies ahead in the distance instead of enjoying the moment we are in right now.

When you take time to walk each day, you slow things down – giving yourself time to think about “greater thoughts” and the purposes that are behind what is currently unfolding within your life.

Walking in Nature

“In every walk with nature, one receives far more than he seeks.” – John Muir

“A walk in nature walks the soul back home.” – Mary Davis

As I mentioned earlier, there is something about abandoning the man-made world and walking with God through the one He created.  This stems back to the beginning of creation (Genesis 3:8).

Everywhere you look, you see miracles!  It’s a constant reminder of God’s awesome power, His presence, and His love for us.

“But ask the animals, and they will teach you; the birds of the air, they will tell you; ask the plants of the earth, and they will teach you; and the fish of the sea will declare to you.  Who among these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this?  In his hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of every human being.” – Job 12: 7-10 NRSV

“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.  Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display his knowledge.  There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard.  Their voice goes out to all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.” – Psalm 19: 1-4 NIV

As we face life, we need this reinforcement of who God is and of all He has done!  If you are unable to walk, slow down enough each day to sit in nature, to observe the miracles, and to spend time with God in His world.

It will change your viewpoint and transform your life!

Humbly Walking by Faith, Light, and Love

“For we walk by faith and not by sight.” – 2 Corinthians 5:7

“But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another…” – 1 John 1:7

“Walk in love as Christ also loved us and has given Himself for us.” – Ephesians 5:2

“What does the Lord require of you, but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.” – Micah 6:8

Think about the verses above and how they translate into how you walk each day:

Do you trust God deeply as you walk – even when you are faced with difficult and dismal circumstances?

“Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me…” – Psalm 23:4 NIV

Do you walk in the light of His presence, or do you unconsciously make your own way?

“A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps.” – Proverbs 16:9 NKJV

Do you walk with humility, surrendering you way to God’s way?

“Whether you turn to the right or the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you saying, ‘This is the way; walk in it.” – Isaiah 30:21 NIV

Do you choose to walk in love – striving to help and understand others?

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no account of wrongs.  Love takes no pleasure in evil but rejoices in the truth.  It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.  – 1 Corinthians 13: 4-7 NIV

Today, I hope you contemplate the benefits of walking – slowing down your life’s hurried and often frantic pace and exchanging it for one that is self-reflective and filled with purpose.  I pray that you see how walking brings you back to yourself and turns your attention to all the miracles that surround you!

I also pray that you think deeply about HOW you walk – walking in the light and love of God each day 😊 Humbly trust in Him with all you encounter as you walk your pathway back to Him my friend.

God bless!