Genesis 3:8 That evening they [Adam and Eve] heard the sound of THE LORD GOD walking in the garden; and they hid themselves among the trees. [Living Bible translation]
Summary
There are numerous verses in the Bible about walks or walking with GOD. It seems that even from the very beginning of humanity, GOD wanted to walk with us! There is strong evidence in Genesis that before “the fall,” Adam and Eve “walked” with GOD. They walked in a garden. In fact, they must have walked together so many times, in that Adam and Eve heard and recognized “HIS WALK.” It appears that the walks may have been regular and consistent---that is before “the fall.” After “the fall” things changed. Instead of Adam and Eve going on their usual evening walk with GOD, after “the fall” Adam and Eve were a “no show.” GOD was there, but Adam and Eve were not.
Genesis 3:8 notes “that evening,” they [Adam and Eve] “heard the sound of THE LORD GOD “walking in the garden” but they did not join in walking. Perhaps it was because of their fears or their focus on themselves because their focus was on themselves (e.g. they were naked—verse 11); because they were too busy blaming others for their disobedience to GOD or failing to repent to GOD and accept personal responsibility for what they had done (verse 12 and 13). They were spiritually naked---trying to hide their shame, their guilt of disobedience, and felt exposed. They were simply out of sync with GOD. Their sinful behavior had ruined “the walk.”
Throughout Biblical history, GOD has invited others to “walk.” GOD invited ninety-nine
year-old Abram to “walk before ME and be blameless” (Genesis 17:1 Revised Standard). When Abram accepted GOD’s “invitation,” his name was immediately changed from Abram to Abraham. GOD was starting the transformation.
Enoch also accepted GOD’s invitation to walk. GOD and Enoch’s walk was so close some state that Enoch transformed “from mortality” into “immorality,” or did not experience death. The BIBLE says that Enoch “was not.” Maybe Enoch was “not afraid,” “not concerned about what others thought, but more concerned about GOD.” Perhaps Enoch was “not the kind of person who blames others but instead, became the kind of person who asks GOD to examine his own mistakes first” or “not the kind of person to let anything (e.g., no thoughts or anxieties about pandemics or earthly matters) ever separate him from GOD.” Perhaps GOD just “took” the “old Enoch” and transformed him into something so different that people thought there was “a new man,” because of all the changes in Enoch’s mind, heart and spirit because of his close spiritual walk with GOD.
Perhaps Enoch looked at his hands and his hands looked new; he looked at his feet and they did too because in routinely walking and talking with GOD, the “old” Enoch was being transformed.
There are others who could also testify about the transformative powers of “a walk.” Ask the two men who walked with JESUS on the road to Emmaus (Luke24:13-35); ask Peter about his walk with JESUS on the water (Luke 24:13-35); ask the man who had been complaining about his physical problems and his situation for 38 years who was simply told by JESUS to “Rise, take up his sleeping mat and walk.” (John 4:8) or Paul who left this instruction to a church: “For we walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Cor. 5:7).
Learning to walk with GOD can be transformative.
Walking Can Change the Brain and Our Mental Health
Research suggests that the simple act of walking can change our mental health. In a controlled study, the researchers at Stanford University wanted to know if taking a 90-minute walk through a natural environment would basically improve mental health.
The scientists looked at “brooding.” Brooding is a “morbid rumination” or a kind of mental state where a person “can’t seem to stop chewing” over the ways in which things are wrong with themselves or their lives. This “broken-record” fretting is not healthy or helpful and has been connected with depression and is more common among city dwellers than people living outside urban areas.
The scientist asked a group of subjects to complete a questionnaire to determine their level of morbid rumination. They then randomly asked ½ the subjects to take a walk through a leafy, quiet, park-like portion of the Stanford campus or alternatively take a walk next to a loud, hectic, multi-lane highway in Palo Alto, a busy city. After the walk, the subjects came back to the lab to complete a questionnaire and a brain scan. Those who walked near the highway still had high blood flow to their subgenual prefrontal cortex of the brain and their broodiness score was unchanged. Those who strolled along the quiet, tree-lined paths showed “slight but meaningful improvements” in their mental health, based on their questionnaire scores and their scans. They had less blood flow to the subgenual prefrontal cortex of the brain (which meant that portion of the brain “was quieter”) and they did not dwell on the negative aspects of their lives as much as before their nature walk.
These kinds of studies highlight the importance of visiting parks, natural environments, walking, or being able to enjoy nature. See, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, “Nature experience reduces rumination and subgenual prefrontal cortex activity,” by Bratman, Hamilton, Hahn, Daily, and Gross, https://www.pnas.org/content/112/28/8567.
If you are tired of “things” in your life, with your body, with your mental health, or your situation, then, why not “take a walk” or spend some time in nature.
The Family Walk With Children or Others
The family walk can be an excellent way to enjoy quality family time with children outside the home. For those with children (especially school-age children) who may need more exercise in these pandemic times, it can also be an excellent teaching tool and transformative learning experience. Here are just a few activities for you and your child:
- Introduce your child to books on trees, birds, vegetation, and flowers;
- Give your child a paper or phone map and teach them how to map read or you and your child can create a map of the places you visit;
- Use your walk time to explore activities that occurred at school (e.g. social interactions, classwork, their learning environment) or during the day;
- Use your walk time to talk about values, beliefs, your child’s talents, goals, desires;
- Use the walk time to get to really know one another and learn to listen to each other;
- Give your child a sports watch or walking app so they can track distance, create goals, create a graph or other ways to measure progress;
- Use your walk time to discuss your upcoming Sunday School lessons, to review the verses above, or to study other people’s lives or to discuss what it means for you, your child, your family, or others to commit to walking with GOD.
Embrace GOD’s Transformation
GOD wants to walk with us. HE wants to transform our lives. HE wants to make us “new creatures.” 2 Cor. 5:17. The invitation to be transformed is still “open” to all.
GOD wants all us to be part of the family of GOD.
Embrace GOD’s transformative power and BE BLESSED.
