Putting Yourself in a Position to Receive Peace
Ambling, moseying, scurrying. Fast walking, power walking, speed walking. You have probably walked in all of these ways and more. Talking on a phone, worrying, brooding, or talking to yourself. You walk.
Over the next few weeks, I invite you to share in these musings about spiritual walking. If you read this blog very often, you know that I do a lot of early morning walking and hiking. I am also very interested in living with inner peace. I suspect you are as well. This is why I spent three years of my life completing an 84 hour Master of Divinity. And it helped.
But, I don’t always set out on a spiritual walk to solve theological conundrums or to save the world. I walk to receive peace. If I am living from a posture of peace, I am much better equipped to help others.
Would you like to put yourself in a position to receive peace?
Early, late or midday, you can do this. In a park, on a trail, or on a sidewalk. The trick is to switch gears from worrying and brooding over to welcoming. Here’s the first suggestion:
Receive. When you set out on a spiritual walk, put yourself in a mental and spiritual posture of acceptance. Notice the light glistening off of the water. Listen to the birds, the neighborhood dogs, or the distant cars. Smell the wet asphalt, the morning dew, or the fresh cut grass. Feel the breeze. Become acutely aware of the humidity, or the crisp air. Welcome each sensation as a gift.
As you do, you may notice an involuntary smile emerging to relax your face. Let it be. Embrace thoughts of gratitude. If you pray as you walk, ease off on the telling and the asking. Rather, lean into the receiving. God is not holding out on you.
Receive what is good in this moment.
And as you do, your walking pace may slow down. You may want to remain on this spiritual walk for a while.
Receive.
Worth Repeating
An early morning walk is a blessing for the whole day.
-Henry David Thoreau
