I walked on as though keeping a vow -Laurie Lee
I don't know if I have ever made this connection before, but I've been thinking abut walking as a form of protest. We see marches on TV, usually in urban settings, protesting injustice; crowds of people, sometimes holding signs, sometimes singing, sometimes looking sad, defiant, or hopeful, but always walking. The slow but constant movement of walking is a sign of determination, freedom and hope. "All kinds of people – for all kinds of reasons – still view walking as a radical act; as a form of protest, as a tool for ideological change, and even as a way of saving their own lives." Karen Emslie
As I hike I recognize a sense of determination in me and even a bit of protest. As a boy, whenever I felt upset, I had the urge to walk. We lived in Orange County, California at a time when there were more orange trees than people. I often found myself walking through orange groves as a way of expressing and relieving my childhood pain. Forty-five years later, things haven't changed much. I continue to walk with a quiet determination; not as much in response to emotional pain, but rather an expression of defiance and hope. Walking along the divide from Mexico to Canada through five states isn't brain surgery, but it does take guts!
For me hiking helps me focus on what is true and essential. Hiking defies modern culture that uses words like more, faster, bigger, newer, safer, and easier with the reverence one would have when talking about God. And those who are supposed to be teaching us about God, some Christian preachers and teachers, aren't helping address this issue when they reduce the message of the Bible to these same ideas. The Bible tells us that rejecting the pattern of this world and renewing our minds are two sides of the same coin. For me, walking is the opportunity to do both.
But more than just defiance, hiking gives me hope. There is a great sense of freedom and where there is freedom, there is the possibility of change. For most of my life I have been on a religious treadmill of performance, and sadly, there has been little improvement. Recently, I have had a profound experience of God's grace and have been taking a break from the treadmill. But strangely enough, my desire to change has not left me, but rather has taken a new focus: loving my neighbor. Rather than an inward focus of self improvement, I find myself looking outward, seeing the needs of others and wanting to serve them. It's a baby step I know, but for the first time in a long while, I feel like I am walking in the right direction.
For additional content, check out Flickr for images, YouTube for video, SoundCloud for audio, and the Postholer Map with my most recent location.
Thanks for following along!
Comments