my (aching) contemplative legs ...
For the last few weeks, I've been kind of lazy; not so much with my contemplation but with my walking. I'm not particularly adventurous and usually only walk for a couple of hours or so; old villages are a favourite of mine and finding small unique things as I have mentioned before.
I'm not sure why i started to skip walking; some of it was well intentioned I think, with the idea of spending more time indoors in prayer, but walking is not only good exercise but a perfect time for 'prayer walking'. Today being a quiet day, I thought it was time to get back on the horse (or feet) and went for a walk in my local area. It was only for an hour but it is quite hilly so gave my legs a bit of a work out...
... and that's a good thing and part of the purpose of walking .. a bit of exercise is good for us all.
The way i walked today meant, almost from leaving my front door, a walk uphill for quite a way. It's fair to say that my legs didn't thank me for that and all i could think of was 'must get to the top'. However hard it was, I just wanted to get there. Once I had, i looked back and realised that I hadn't been saying the Jesus prayer as I had planned, and equally importantly, I had barely noticed anything other than my feet plodding through the thick layer of leaves on the pavements.
After a few breaths I took a few steps heading downhill on my way back home, this time with my wrist prayers beads in my hand reciting the Jesus prayer. Not only that, I noticed the colours of the leaves and the ragged plants that still survived in gardens, and i also noticed a sense of myself being in the moment; no longer simply aiming to get there but to be in the moment, step by step by step.
When I finally arrived home, not only had i got a few miles in my legs but I felt more ... centred .. i guess, though it's not a word i would usually use. Instead of that flustered 'stomping' up the hill feeling, I felt more 'at one' with myself and with God, ready to continue my contemplative life.
