One of several
life-habits I wish everyone would develop is taking a daily walk. Over a mile,
if possible. Artists and writers, whose occupations usually require them to sit
still for long periods of time, could especially benefit from this habit.
Walking is not only good for your body, but for your mind, soul, and spirit as
well. It can be a very necessary time of clearing out the clutter in your head,
sorting the important stuff, and finding new things. It’s also a good time to
talk to God…or to be quiet and in awe of Him.
There are three main routes I walk
during the week: The Forest Loop, Iris Hill, and Coalman Road. Each has unique
beauty.
The Forest Loop is on the ninety
acres of woods next to our property, which my grandfather owns. It’s wild land,
reaching up bushes and brambles, and reaching down grasping limbs, to reclaim
the paths we work to maintain. Rows of trees, deep shadows, tents of leaves,
trickling streams, and still water. The seasons turn: bright green spring, lush
summer, scented autumn, and stark, bony winter. Sometimes I walk in the rain
and have a discussion with God while my boots slurp and squish. Sometimes I
walk in glittering sunlight that sketches every branch and patch of moss in
gold, and new story ideas bounce in my mind.
Iris Hill is also on my
grandfather’s ninety acres. I recently gave it that name (it was formerly known
as The Big Hill, Killer Hill, etc.) after I found an abundance of those elegant
purple flowers growing up it. The steep climb can leave you gasping for air,
but the view from the top distracts you from the discomfort. Iris Hill offers a
panorama of Mount Hood and the rolling foothill country we live in. I’ve gone up
there on cold, windy days when the bare alders clacked against each other, and
I was full of wonderings and questions for God. I’ve gone up on bright days
when the land glowed and problems seemed far away. I’ve gone up on a day when
snow sparkled living white in the sun, under a blazing blue sky, and there on
Iris Hill I had to lift my voice and sing the Revelation Song: Worthy is
the/Lamb who was slain/Holy, holy is He/Sing a new song/To Him who sits
on/Heaven’s mercy seat…*
Coalman Road is the stretch of
pavement we live on: a long, meandering country road. It’s at its best on a
crisp sunny day. Majestic trees, wide fields (one in particular where I imagine
an epic battle being fought, sword-swinging attackers charging out of the
woods), the crunch of gravel on the “sidewalks”, horses, llamas, and the
occasional barking dog watching you pass. Walking Coalman Road, I begin
thinking about my family and neighbors. As I pass the houses, I rarely see the
people, but I know they’re there. I know that I’m walking by dozens of lives,
dozens of hearts, dozens of stories being played out so near me. I sense Jesus
on Coalman Road. I can almost feel His heart beating, His eyes looking with
love and longing for the people who are so precious to him. Every breath of
wind, every twittering bird, every rustle in the grassy fields…it’s Him.
I hope that wherever God takes me in
this life, I’ll find somewhere to walk. I walk off the fears and tension and depression, and walk in God’s peace and
grace and inspiration. I walk off my whining and excuses, and walk in the truth of His
Word. Oh, sometimes it’s so good just to be quiet! Sometimes the silence says
so much, I can’t even describe it. I just know it’s Jesus.
If you are by any chance feeling an
urge to go out and do a bit of walking yourself, all I can say is, GET GOING!
[*Note: song lyrics by Phillips, Craig & Dean]
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