For the last 15 years I’ve been a runner. In my early 30s, after a few years of feeling sluggish, I stumbled across running as a life-giving energiser. Around 80% of my days, I choose to run. I am not a jogger. I am a runner 😉

In my mind walking was a poor relation of jogging and an enemy of running. Runners only walk when they are quitting!

And then walking ambushed me. I found myself in terrain where running wasn’t possible and moving forward by walking was the only viable option. I discovered walking to be one of God’s good gifts.

I discovered that it slowed me down to notice things I wouldn’t have noticed had I been moving faster. It slowed my breathing so that I could appreciate the free gift of oxygen in my lungs. It created space to process my thoughts, listen to the Spirit’s whisper and ignite my imagination to dream.

Of course, Jesus walked. I read recently that during His three year ministry He spent three months each year just walking. Walking to Jerusalem. Walking to villages and towns. Walking with friends and family. Walking up mountains to teach. Walking away from the crowds to pray.

Jesus walked.

And so I walk.

I take a walk around the streets where I live and I pray. I walk with friends and we talk about things more freely than sitting face to face. I walk in nature and I celebrate God’s beautiful creation. I walk as a choice, as a spiritual rhythm, as a way of recalibrating my inner-world.

And as I walk, I move at the speed of my soul, ‘God speed’, it settles my mind and peace invades my heart.