Being able to walk outside is such a gift! I have been nursing a bad back/hip for a while and have missed fresh air. Now the mornings are cool and the flowers are still blooming, and I am appreciating the ability to walk before work more than ever. We have to enjoy it while we have it.
The experience has moved me to pray. In the spirit of the weekly walks for peace that have been happening on Sunday afternoons around the city, I have started praying for my neighbors. It is amazing what you notice when you pay attention.
I pray for the kids who left out their toys or are waiting for the bus. I pray for the adults who are mowing their lawn or taking out the garbage. I rejoice in the new car or the home improvement project. I worry when the lawn hasn’t been mowed for awhile or there hasn’t been much activity.
I pray for the person who threw their trash on the sidewalk, who was obviously ill, who is walking aimlessly because they have nowhere to go. I greet every person I pass with enthusiasm, and pray for them on their way.
Mostly I pray for peace, for my neighbors, for our city, for the world. We need to notice our neighbors, and be relentless in our prayer for peace and nonviolence. Join me!