Walking in it...

I have walked two pilgrimages, one in Southern Scotland into Northumbria and one in Spain.

Left: St. Cuthbert’s Way Scotland.

Both were about 100 km and took 4-5 days, walking between 16 and 30 km a day. Nothing puts distance in perspective like walking. In Spain after finishing our walk to the coast we drove back to our starting location in a bit over an hour. Walking is the ultimate slowing down. In my experience, walking has placed me in connection to the places I am in a way that I don’t experience with wheels - the feel of the earth or concrete under your feet reminding you with every step that you are right here. In a car or even on a skateboard I find myself free to navigate around and through my surroundings. However, when I am walking I am brutally and sometimes beautifully confronted by them.

Below: Camino Santiago – Finisterre, Spain
In Spain, we walked through numerous beautiful little villages, saw sunsets, sat in fields, climbed hills - we ate bread and soup, met locals and pilgrims, laughed and walked. On our ONE HOUR drive back we sat in our air conditioned bus listening to the radio. Numerous things I have been reading have discussed the degree to which we are able to live in a virtual world completely disconnected from the places and people around us. We do need not leave our house or talk to our neighbour or listen to the rain. Technology allows us the opportunity to choose who and what we will be connected with from a near limitless selection. More over we are able to stay connected more easily to an infinite number of people through Twitter, Facebook, Skype, telephone etc. We create, maintain and participate in numerous networks of friends, family and colleagues. In fact, I find that there are so many people that are so “easily” accessible that it can be almost overwhelming to imagine developing new relationships as I feel overwhelmed with maintaining the ones I already have. I find it difficult to want to build friendships with my neighbours because I’m so busy trying to maintain relationships with people all over the lower mainland. And amusingly, I will often not want to drive the distance to spend time with friends.

So where does this leave me? Too often it leaves me watching TV. My conclusion is I am going to begin walking at least 3 mornings a week in my neighbourhood. This is a somewhat unpleasant decision. I don’t and have never like walking and have only come to have an appreciation of it after my two pilgrimages. I also don’t like suburbs. When I do choose to go walking I prefer parks, green belt etc. However, in my desire to learn “to be where I am” I have decided to start walking my neighbourhood. I intend to do this in the morning and anticipate success in three areas: 1. I will get up and dressed and do something active, which means I am more likely to do something else productive before I go to work. 2. I will be available to say “Hi” and meet people in my neighbourhood. 3. I will pray for my neighbours and neighbourhood.

Walking is a common metaphor in the Bible for our relationship with God and life. This is probably in part due to the pervasive nature of walking in the Ancient Near East. Have we lost something with our quick and easy mobility? Or can we simply switch the metaphor and say “Jesus take the wheel”? I think walking teaches us about life in a way that driving doesn’t.

Do you know your neighbours?
Do you walk your neighbourhood?
Do you have time?
Book Recommendation: The Way is made by Walking by Paul Boers