Currently Reading Total Temple Makeover: How to Turn Your Body into a Temple You Can Rejoice In By Greg Jantz see related

Health care experts (and "I are one"), tout the value of exercise, in that it is good for circulation, builds strong bones and muscles, keeps you flexible, increases metabolism, improves mood, helps you sleep better, and gives your heart and lungs something to do besides slug along at their normal apathetic pace. I also do my best memorizing when I'm "in the rhythm" of walking and have blood circulating through my brain. But I am a lover of the morning walk for more spiritual reasons as well.

I highly recommend that everyone make a habit of getting out early to walk at least once in a while. Yesterday morning (Mother's Day) I got out for a long, energetic walk before breakfast and before church. There's nothing like walking around the quiet neighborhood seeing the sun try to burn through the fog, smelling the honeysuckle blooms, hearing nothing but the birds and the creek, and talking to no one but God. I recently read a book in which the main character referred to this as "tilling time". (She took her dog with her-you won't catch me doing that!) It's especially profitable if you have your Quiet Time first, to tune up your heart so you can meditate while you walk.

As I walked yesterday, I caught a whiff of a familiar scent that took me back in time to the far corner of our backyard in WV--looked across the street and saw a honeysuckle vine full of blossoms. That corner of our backyard was where we spent 95% of our time in the summer. The swingset and sandbox were there. The sandbox had no particular appeal to me, as I really didn't like being dirty, but I do remember instigating a project that involved collecting honeysuckle nectar in dixie cups! We usually gave up before the whole bottom of the cup was covered, but then we took turns tasting it from the tips of our fingers as if it were the best delicacy we had ever had!

Occasionally, my sweetheart & I walk together, and have some of our best conversations as we walk--solve the world's problems, if you will (or at least vent so we feel better about leaving the problems of the world in God's hands!)

So....whether you use the time to memorize, pray, meditate, plan, think, reminisce, compose, vent, share with a friend, or just clear your head---go take a walk! And enjoy!