These are destabilizing days. The news swirls around us so fiercely, delivering yet another shocking political development, or the tragedy of a plane crash or school shooting, and all of it coming so quickly that it’s impossible to wrap our minds around one event before the next one surfaces. When we can get above the swirl for a few minutes, the scene appears bleak for much of what we, as people of faith, hold dear. The most vulnerable around us — the poor, the sick, those in battle zones or disaster sites, immigrants and people of color and the gender-expansive community — are facing into political headwinds that threaten to topple the services and caring that they need most. How do we deal with this?

This week at the Wednesday Spirituality Class we explored the practice of walking prayer. We spoke of two forms:
* Walk v-e-r-y v-e-r-y v-e-r-y slowly, in the style of Buddism’s “walking meditation.” Focus all your attention on the sensation of each foot as it comes into contact with the ground, then releases as the next foot steps forward. To walk this way can focus a racing mind, just as meditation uses breath as a focus point, and offers stillness for a weary soul.
* “Regular” walking, often outside, in a mindful attitude. As you walk, pay acute attention to the sights and sounds around you, noting the birds, the trees, the sky, the passersby. In this walking our spirit can open as we listen for God’s leading. Our hearts can lean into gratitude for all that is around.

We also talked about the power of going for a walk when one has received sudden, disturbing news. We shared stories of the times we have experienced the power of the rhythmic movement of walking as it helped to settle our spirits and open us to new insights.

Some years ago, when I was at a time of recalibrating my professional life, I sought out a coach who specialized in helping women through challenging times. She gave me an image that has stayed with me ever since, and that seems very appropriate now:

“When you find yourself at an impasse and don’t know what way to go, just keep walking in place,” she told me. “Just keep walking in place. And keep paying attention. Then, when a direction presents itself, you’re already walking, and you can just move in that direction.”

I assumed she meant “walking in place” as a figurative instruction, but it works literally too. Sometimes I’ve walked, step over step, on just one tile in the hallway, as a way of embodying the sense that I’m not sure which way to go and simultaneously being ready to move when the way forward is revealed. Thich Nhat Hanh writes about walking slowly around and around a room, walking until his spirit settled and he gained insight into the next choice he needed to make.

The point is, to keep walking. Even in circles, for while. Even in place. Even figuratively, in our spirits.

The point is, to keep our spirits open to what Jesus would have us be and do, in these destabilizing days. Remember, Jesus did all of his travel (well, except for Palm Sunday 🙂 on foot, walking the dusty roads with his followers. As he walked, he taught and laughed and argued and prayed, showing his followers how to live in God’s love at every moment.

We keep walking. We keep loving. We wait for God’s leading, ready to serve, ready to support, ready to act. We walk together. We walk with God.

Blessings,

Pastor Barb Lemmel