When the sheltering-at-home orders began in March, we found ourselves together in the house all day long. On many spring and summer nights after dinner, I’d look at my husband and three daughters and say, “Let’s go for a walk.”
I may have well been saying, “I need to get out of here.” And my people all understood.
We would slip into flip flops and Birkenstocks and head out the front door. According to the dictionary, to walk means “to advance or travel on foot at a moderate speed or pace.”
Our pace was more of a stroll.
Unhurried and unharried, we did not walk with a specific purpose or agenda besides simply breathing some fresh air and being together. We would walk in groups of two or three and settle into a slow pace that enabled us to talk and observe.
My girls know I am a sunset chaser. Ever since my late husband Ericlee soared to heaven in 2014, I have found great comfort in the unique ways God paints the sky each night. The swirl of colors – sometimes in baby pastels, sometimes in richer, jewel tones – always reminds me that God is our Creator and holds all things in His hands.
Our family loves to serpentine through the neighborhood and follow the cul-de-sacs. We make a point of walking down that one street where roses line the walkway. We oooh and ahhh together at the roses twirling their petal skirts. We peek at the ripe fruit hanging over fences and check out the homes for sale.
In those early weeks, we noticed lots of other families were out too. We saw neighbors walking their dogs, groups of tweens riding their bikes and scooters, and even some grandparents ambling through the streets pushing babies in strollers. We waved and chatted socially-distanced, six feet (or more) apart.
We quickly realized these circumstances, which required so many to stay at home, were giving us more points of connection than ever before. We have only been living in this particular neighborhood for two years. My daughters observed there are way more kids living in our neighborhood than we had thought.
My heart also soared when I noted the cultural diversity among my neighbors. We passed many speaking in other mother tongues and with a diversity of skin tones. In an uncertain world, I felt somehow more at home in my own brown skin.
As we were simply putting one foot in front of the other, our little family also connected with each other more too. Sisters, who were frequently squabbling at the dinner table, were naturally linking arms and laughing together as they walked. I had more of a chance to unpack the day’s events and my heart’s worries with my husband Shawn.
Walking is an important mode of transportation mentioned frequently in the Bible. In a spiritual sense, walking with God means to abide with Him, obey His commands, and keep a deliberate pace, following His lead.
Adam and Eve hear God “walking in the garden” in Genesis 3:8. This very vivid description of God tells us something about our heavenly Father. Our all-powerful, all-knowing, omnipresent God longs for personal connection with His children. There is an intimacy that grows in walking together.
Throughout the Old Testament, we read accounts of people of faith walking with God. Enoch lived a total of 365 years walking with His heavenly Father. Genesis 5:24 says, “Enoch walked faithfully with God; then he was no more, because God took him away.”
In Genesis 6:9, we read about Noah walking with God: “Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked faithfully with God.” God was Noah’s pacer and gave him assurance as he built the ark with no sign of rain on the horizon.
Paul reminds us to walk with good form: “ . . . walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:1-3).
1 John 2:6 also highlights the concept of walking: “Whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.” John is talking about daily living out our faith by following Jesus’ example.
Jesus deliberately chose to walk shoulder-to-shoulder with people. He was the Messiah-King, but He did not travel in a chariot or ride a majestic horse like other kings of His time. He didn’t tool around town in a Tesla or a limousine.
Jesus walked, and He invites each of us to follow Him.
He walked up a great hill carrying a cross and then died on that cross so that every one of us would have the invitation to walk across a path of grace and into heaven one day.
Friend, let Jesus pace you. Resist the urge to run ahead or lag behind. Instead, walk with Him.
In what ways has walking brought more connection for you with people or God?
Bev @ Walking Well With God says
Dorina,
Before COVID even began, my husband and I faithfully took a walk with our beagle twice a day. There were many days (especially in winter) when we were out there by ourselves. But recently? Our neighborhood has entire families walking their dogs. It’s a fun time of meet and greet (socially distancing of course). We’ve gotten to know neighbors who, until now, our only exchange was a passing wave. I am a walking enthusiast. Nothing recharges my battery like getting out into God’s beautiful creation – especially this time of year. My blog is aptly called, “Walking Well With God,” (http://walkingwellwithgod.blogspot.com) because walking and talking with God is my favorite activity. Yes, the Lord sets the pace and establishes our steps.
Blessings,
Bev xx
Diane says
Dorina,
Thanks for the encouragement with this post. You have a beautiful gift of writing. Thank you and May God Bless you and yours! ❤️
Dorina Lazo Gilmore-Young says
Diane! Thank you for encouraging me with your comment! I appreciate you reading!
Melissa Ens says
Such good encouragement! These days in our culture, in our relationships with each other and God (and how we push ourselves!) I feel like we are so much more eager to RUN than we are to walk. But we – I – need the slow moments desperately. I’m literally walking more these days and love that sometimes I’m alone with my heart and God and other times I’m with my son or mom or walking buddy. It really is a gift from God in so many ways and it’s been good for my physical heart as well as my spiritual heart. God is so good like that!!! Thank you for another reminder, Dorina.
Dorina Lazo Gilmore-Young says
Yes, I feel that nuance in walking slowly and deliberately too! Thanks for always encouraging me, friend!
Janet Williams says
Dorina,
I agree with Diane, you do write beautifully. I relate so much when you describe your experiences with nature. My sister is in heaven and each time I see the crescent moon shaped as a smile I think of her and how happy she is that she is no longer sick. Thank you for reminding us how special our walk with Jesus is. Have a wonderful day!
Dorina Lazo Gilmore-Young says
Janet, I love that image of the smiling moon and that reminder of your sister! What a sweet gift!
Joan Payne says
When my husband was alive, we used to walk a lot around the neighborhood. Strangely, we were alone more than meeting people, but it was a freedom to enjoy the outdoors. Where I live now, is a senior’s community. I feel God’s connection even more now, as birds seem to be a connection to God. They have been in contact with me through the years, in unusual ways. So, defintely, seeing a bird nearby, I know God is close. I feel it.
Dorina Lazo Gilmore-Young says
That’s beautiful, Joan! Birds are the thing drawing me to God this year too! Soaring!
vina mogg says
Dorina, this is beautiful. I love that you are a sunset chaser. I enjoy your discoveries on your walk in your neighborhood. Most of all I enjoy the way you weave scripture into these experiences. I “saw” you online at the conference last week. Maybe next time we can “meet” there. Until then I will begin to follow your path of words. Blessings to you!
Dorina Lazo Gilmore-Young says
Hi Vina, So fun to connect here! I appreciate your encouragement and reaching out! I’m looking forward to getting to know you better!
Beth Williams says
Dorina,
This pandemic has brought people closer together than we’ve been in a while. It has made us slow down & given us time to get to know each other & our neighbors better. Far to often we find ourselves running ahead of Jesus. We seem to be a people always in a hurry to get to the next thing. All of us should slow down & let Jesus be the one to pace our lives. Follow His lead & examples. Never rush ahead. Just stroll. While strolling we can enjoy the beauty God shows us daily. I sense a connection when looking out at the mountains & fall colors. God is painting my area with bright vivid colors.
Blessings 🙂
dorina@dorinagilmore.com says
I love seeing the ways God is an artist right in our midst! Love this!
Freddy Heynssens says
What a Savior we have that He walked in our shoes. He understands and He is with us.
Glory to God.
Thank you for this challenging and encouraging meditation.
God bless you richly.
dorina@dorinagilmore.com says
Amen! This wows me every time! Walking with Him…