On Sauntering

 

The Creek

Over the past couple of years, I have been able to go for regular walks, something I have not been able to do for many years because of a chronic health condition.  Walking sometimes happens but mostly it is sauntering.  On these excursions I am always accompanied by my miniature poodle, Leo.

Thanks to these saunters, I have discovered many things – the joy when a rhythm of movement takes over and I feel my body is walking me effortlessly; gardens, parks and trees; wildlife and other walkers and the local dogs.  Dogs are the best conversation openers.

One of my favourite walks is along a nearby creek either in the early morning or late afternoon.  I enter the surrounding open parkland from a busy suburban road and built up suburbia, to open space giving me a sense of large sky and horizon and then the path leads to the tree lined creek walk which enfolds the path in shade.  Here the wildlife flourishes – fish, water dragons, birds of many sorts.

We owe the flourishing of this creek to the persistence of one local man who, over many years has taken it upon himself to regenerate the creek environment.  Over time the city council and a nearby school have contributed to the regeneration process which is still underway.

This lone man has energised both local government and local people to care for this waterway which, before the regeneration was a polluted tip for rubbish from plastic bags to shopping trolleys. 

Along the way, people, children and dogs more often than not exchange greetings – a smile, a ‘morning! greeting, dog pat or short conversation.  I am not sure we know each other’s names but we do know the names of the dogs and the children.

I return from these walks refreshed in spirit and understand why Hilaire Belloc claimed that the word ‘saunter’ comes from the Old French terre sainte.  Others claim the word comes from Middle English meaning to wonder, to muse.  The latter emphasised it as a thought process.  Belloc emphasised a way of walking on holy ground. 

These meanings coincide for me. 

These saunters enable my encounters with my ability to be enjoyably active, the beauty to be found in the familiar and the graciousness of people open me to the Mystery.  I return to my home with hope, gratitude and joy renewed.

There is much suffering in the world – the land and sea, the creatures and humankind – and humankind appears to be in denial.  However, in these moments of graciousness I am reminded that goodness abounds – one man’s perseverance brings life to a creek and starts a movement, people adopt rejected and cruelly treated greyhounds, others accompany elderly or disabled people on walks, families take time to play together and dogs, well, dogs just want to talk to everyone.  A smile, an encounter says, ‘I acknowledge you.  You exist.’

I am reminded again and again that the Holy took flesh and became one with all creation, not because creation was bad, but because we are more beautiful and treasured than we can imagine.  Christ is not only ‘through whom all things were created’ but Risen, he is the crown of creation.  All images fall short of the committed love of God for us.

We see tokens of this love in the abiding love of family and friends and those who hunger and thirst for justice. 

These momentary glimpses of fidelity to goodness I have in my sauntering are tangible glimpses of the Holy always present, always nudging us to see and respond and enlarge our hearts and minds.  They reaffirm goodness already present and too often unnoticed. Goodness is contagious.

My sauntering creates a silence within me that allows me to see the familiar (even myself) with newness, wonder and gratitude.  I, like everyone else, learn well when I take time to attend.  So, I return home with renewed hope, trust and joy in the God of Jesus who dwells among us in surprising ways.

In Advent we have two great invocations: ‘Come Lord Jesus’ – the great cry Maranatha and ‘Awake!’  God in Christ, the Risen One is both always present, always coming and always seeking us. 

May we be awake to the Holy One in the surprising goodness with which we are surrounded and bask in the moments.