Pastor Melinda Giese, Summit UMC
Before we needed to stay home to stay safe, walking revolved around errands or work. I walked up and down the aisles of Costco and through the endless labyrinths of Tacoma General Hospital and Good Samaritan. I walked around Target and Trader Joe’s, to and from parking lots, and around the church. I occasionally walked with my husband, Tom, in our neighborhood or on the Milton Interurban Trail. But, let’s be honest, I primarily walked to get stuff done.
However, in the last five and a half weeks, my whole attitude about walking has changed. My daily walk outside with Tom has turned into one of the main highlights of COVID-19 living. I don’t get anything in particular done on this walk – but it’s now one of my main forms of entertainment! I like to see what’s blooming in our neighborhood, and a few of the houses we walk by have ongoing projects to check out. We’ve walked by the same man out working in his yard so many times that we now recognize one another. We compliment him on his yard, and he jokes about why we would punish ourselves by walking up the hill where he lives.
I’ve also discovered that this type of walking gives me a feeling of peace. The fresh air and change of scenery helps clear my mental clutter from the day. As I walk, I can’t help but notice all the signs of growth and new life. Trees sprout new leaves, rhododendrons bloom, and tiny flowers poke up through the cracks of the sidewalk. I also notice the steadiness and consistency of nature, bringing all the signs of spring I’m used to seeing year after year. My walks remind me that there’s a larger story going on, beyond my own life or even the cycle of COVID-19. God continues to breathe life into the world, through us and through the natural growth patterns of the earth.
In the Gospel of Luke, we have a story about a walk with the risen Christ (Luke 24:13-35). Two disciples are walking from Jerusalem to Emmaus. In the midst of their confusion about why Jesus was crucified, a stranger appears who interprets the scriptures to them. The disciples do not understand what has just happened, but this stranger gives them a wider perspective. When they offer the stranger hospitality and share a meal with him, the disciples finally recognize the presence of Christ in their midst.
Most of us don’t meet Jesus so dramatically on our walks, but perhaps walking is one way to connect to the spirit of Christ within us and all around us. As we smile and wave at our neighbors from 6 feet away, his love must be present in these small acts of hospitality and kindness. And as we struggle to make sense of the changes COVID-19 has brought, I hope that his wisdom will guide us forward with new understandings.
If you are able to get out for a walk, I pray that the spirit of the risen Christ will meet you there, as he met his disciples on the road to Emmaus. May his presence remind you of God’s ongoing and unchanging love for us and all creation, and of your own small part in that great story.