On my 88th birthday I took a hike – not just any hike, but one with family and friends including my youngest grandson, Colin, in the foothills of the Sandia mountains here in New Mexico. A wonderful day! I am not a serious hiker but enjoy being out in the forest or mountains and have for many years.
I’ve asked several friends of my age bracket what they do for regular exercise
and a common response is “I walk every day”.
Some say a mile and some five miles.
They also mention that their walks can be peaceful times for prayer and
meditation. Other friends are serious
hikers and while there are differences between hiking and walking, the benefits
are similar.
Hiking is
a more physically demanding outdoor activity usually on trails in nature, while
walking is low intensity on flat and maintained surfaces. Earlier in life I did a lot more hiking, but
these days I usually just go for a walk with my companion, Tupence.
Certainly,
there are many benefits and reasons for walking or hiking, including joint and heart
health, weight control and being at peace and harmony with creation. If I walk
with others, it can also be a healthy social activity and help prevent feelings
of loneliness and isolation. Sometimes I
enjoy company and conversations while walking and at other times I may prefer
the peacefulness of walking alone.
Have you
ever thought about how much Jesus walked – after all there weren’t many options
for getting around! The Gospels give
accounts of the routes and destinations in Judea and Galilee that Jesus walked
during the three years of his public ministry.
Bible scholars estimate a total of about 3,125 miles. What about the 30 years prior to that? Thousands more miles, probably. Considering that His disciples and other
followers accompanied Jesus on long walks between the towns and villages, they
must have been a pretty fit bunch. We
also know that at times Jesus preferred to walk alone, going up on a mountain
side to spend time in solitude and quiet prayer.
One of my
favorite hymns is “Oh Master Let Me Walk with Thee”. We remember that as followers of Jesus, we
metaphorically walk with Jesus. And we
walk together in the body of Christ – the Church.
And
walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant
offering and sacrifice to God
Ephesians 5:2.
The
benefits of walking are physical, mental, social and spiritual and I find it is all of these. What about you?
