In 2009, I began a daily practice of walking, which I hope will take me around the world (in distance). These brisk, four-mile morning walks have been key to my physical, mental, and spiritual well-being.
A Spiritual Discipline
On my walks, I meditate on scripture. I worship. I pray. I listen. I think through challenges. I vent! I confess. I discover grace again and again. Sometimes I just walk for the simple enjoyment of walking. When our intention is to glorify God, walking itself is a spiritual discipline.
In Christian Spiritual Formation: An Integrated Approach for Personal and Relational Wholeness, Diane Chandler explains that spiritual formation is about being renewed in the image of God, and that includes glorifying God with our bodies. Physical health and wellness is one of seven facets of spiritual formation that she addresses. While it is obviously not enough to have a healthy body, the health of our body does have a direct impact on our spiritual lives. Chandler explains that our bodies are “a vehicle for glorifying God,” and that “each of us can make incremental changes that honor God’s prized creation—our bodies—because we are ‘fearfully and wonderfully made’ (Ps. 139:14).” Chandler specifically addresses the need for physical exercise, since “God designed the human body to move” and “to renew itself through physical activity.” She concludes, “Physical exercise is like natural medicine for the body.”
Christians across the centuries have discovered the joy and spiritual benefit of walking. It is said that Martin Luther frequently prayed while walking. Thomas Aquinas was known for walking in monasteries. Soren Kierkegaard said, “Above all, do not lose your desire to walk: every day I walk myself into a state of well-being and walk away from every illness.” Jane Austen was likewise “fond of walking.” C. S. Lewis was an avid walker and refined many of his ideas during brisk walks around Oxford. Apparently, many have discovered walking as a pathway to wholeness. You should give it a try.
Tips for New Walkers
1. Walk in every season. I walk in spring, summer, fall, and winter. I walk when it’s hot and when it’s cold. I walk in the snow. I sometimes walk in the rain. I walk because I enjoy it and because I need it. See my article “Walk With Me In Winter.”
2. Walk everywhere. I normally walk in a park near my home, but due to my travel schedule, I sometimes walk in the world’s busiest airports, through bustling city streets, in places like Kathmandu, Nepal, and Li Jiang, China. I’ve walked through picturesque farmlands of rural America, along riverside trails in the Blue Ridge Mountains, and once, I walked a little way on the Appalachian Trail just to say I did!
3. Walk with others. Find a friend or family member to walk with you. One of my friends is walking with his son and praying the Daily Office while they walk. Even if you do not walk with friends at the same time, you can keep one another accountable and discuss the benefits of your walks. I would love for you to join me in my daily walking routine. You can join the new “Walk With Me” community on Facebook and subscribe to our mailing list on the “Walk With Me” website.
4. Think and pray while you walk, and consider recording your meditations. Keep a journal and jot down insights from your walks. Years ago, I began recording meditations from my walks. This year, I’d love to share them with you, posted every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, or delivered straight to your inbox. I’m dividing these into four seasons, and my hope is to encourage and challenge you with simple truths that have shaped me. And I’d love to hear what Jesus is teaching you, too!
5. Set a goal. My goal is to walk the circumference of the earth, about 25,000 miles, by age 70. After 16 years, averaging about sixteen miles per week, I’ve walked over 13,000 miles, illustrating how small, steady habits add up over time, and I’m better for it.
