Walking in Nature. Walking with God.

The search for parks and walking trails is an on-going adventure in our new location. New Jersey, my former residence, boasts of these kinds of places to visit in the southern parts. I must confess, I presently feel a bit antsy because walking amidst natural environments is my go-to activity for various reasons. Since 2020, committing fully to walking in nature on a regular basis has proved beneficial on so many levels for not only myself but my daughter as well. This is mostly because I’ve equated walking in nature as walking with God.

The Significance

Nehemiah 9:6 states:

“You alone are the Lord.
You have made the heavens,
The heaven of heavens with all their host,
The earth and all that is on it,
The seas and all that is in them.
You give life to all of them
And the heavenly host bows down before You.”

The impact of the global pandemic of 2020 took its toll on my family and so many others. One of our outlets was walking in nature as we could take hope in, “You alone are the Lord. You have made the heavens…” Experiencing the scenery of our natural environment brought a sense of calm and much needed resolve in a time of overwhelming disarray and uncertainty. Listening to the constant chatter of news updates centered on shut-downs, vaccinations, death tolls, etc. was an option. However, listening to the songs of the birds or the rush of a water stream brought more joy!

Impact on Younger Family Members

The start of my homeschooling journey began in 2020. Virtual school proved to be unsuitable for my daughter, so we ventured into the unknown territory of learning independently. Since then, building entire units and lessons around various natural environments constantly proves to be not only academically enriching but extremely fun! Whether learning about God’s creation according to Genesis, farm life at our local venue, the types of trees, or park maps and directions – the subjects of science and spirituality are being experienced up-close and personal.

Walking in Nature. Walking with God. (On-going Journey)

Committing fully to walking in nature on a regular basis is now something my daughter and I crave and need. Now she initiates our time together in this manner just as often as I do. Finding places where we are able to experience meaningful experiences is crucial for us. Spending time in nature helps put so many things in perspective during my family’s move to another state. We are often in awe of the God who created so many beautiful things while remembering that He is certainly still creating beauty in us and for us. Additionally, I can’t imagine planning home school days without walking in nature and time well-spent in appropriate environments.

And so I remain on the hunt for various parks, farms, bodies of water, etc.  I won’t give up. My family’s spiritual and emotional well-being depend on it.

“Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created.” – Revelation 4:11