Walking Prayer

Walking is important to me. I walk whenever I can. I relate to other people differently when I walk than when I drive.

We all walk at our own pace. Sometimes we amble along, sometimes we stride with purpose. Walking gives us time to reflect, to breathe well, and to pray.

My prayer is fairly intentional at the beginning of a walk. There may be a subject or person drawing me out to walk and pray for them. Sometimes I pray through my schedule and the time I will spend with people.

There are times when I pray for the people riding bicycles or skateboards on the sidewalk.

Generally as I walk my praying becomes less structured, less regulated. Slowly, my prayer becomes more about listening than about talking.

There is the prayer of walking in sunshine, and prayer of walking into a wind. There is a prayer of walking in the rain. Different prayers of walking during the day and walking after dark. There is the prayer of walking with another person, and the prayer of walking alone.

Walking prayer is praying with our eyes open. We see the people who might be living on the streets, the people who are waiting for a bus. Walking prayer may be filled with the spiritual life of construction sites, of hospitals, of coffee shops.

Walking prayer is good for us; good for our bodies, good for our spirits, good for our minds. It can be good, challenging exercise that helps us grow stronger. Walking prayer helps knit together our communities. Walking prayer transports us, filling each step with spiritual life.

When we come to the end of our walk, we say Amen.

How will you practice walking prayer this week?

Where will your walking prayer take you today?

[Image by BryonLippincott]