I love to hike.  It’s definitely one of my passions.  I’ve hiked many Indiana State Park trails. Some of my favorites, I’ve walked several times such as Trail 3 at Turkey Run.  Parts of this trail take you through a creek bed that has carved out a narrow ravine. Hemlocks lean over the edge of the ravine and often a mist hangs in the air.  I feel as if I have been transported back into pre-historic time when I take this trail. There is such a peace and tranquility gained from walking trails in deep woodlands where in the spring brilliant wildflowers blanket the forest floor. On winter hikes at Clifty Falls, I am amazed at the sight of waterfalls partially  frozen as they tumble into the canyon below. The sunlight is almost too bright as it reflects off the snow and ice.  Away from everyday noise and stress, these are God’s meeting places.

It’s not difficult to feel like I am walking with God in these locations.  I have no agenda or distractions to pull me away.  Nature is God’s tabernacle. But what about the other 95% of my time spent in the “real” world?  How do I walk with God then?

The Bible is replete with references to people who walked with God:  Adam and Eve in the garden, Noah, Abraham, and Moses, to name a few.  They had close, intimate communion with God.  Is this type of relationship with God only a thing of the past?  I don’t think so.  I believe that this is the role of the Holy Spirit: to walk with each one of us in our daily lives.  But we have to choose to let the Spirit be our companion. Our hearts need to be open and we must leave space in our busy schedules to listen as well as tell the Spirit what’s on our mind, just as we would a friend.  If we didn’t take the time to relate to our friends, would they really be friends?  Probably not. To explain this relationship with the Spirit to someone who has never experienced it, is difficult.  It’s generally not dramatic as it was when the disciples received the Spirit on Pentecost with a strong wind and fire.  It is a subtle voice that gives you words to say in a difficult situation.  It is the nudge to give a hug to your neighbor who unbeknownst to you, really needs it at that moment.  It is the unseen hands on your shoulders and the thought that suddenly pops into your brain saying, “I want you to do this; you can help.”  I’ve experienced all these things and more throughout my life.  Deep in my being, I know these experiences are not just in my imagination but are from God.  They are real.

Walking with God is a choice to walk beside Him, not in front of Him or behind Him.  It’s a partnership.  If a person walks behind Him, they can see what He is doing through other people but they are not a part of it.  They know He exists but they keep their distance and don’t get involved in His work.  If a person walks in front of God, they may be doing great work helping others but they may not be where God wants them to be or where they fit best.  They are leading the way, not permitting God to be in charge. Then there are others who just wander away aimlessly.  They are like sheep who keep their heads down while eating.  When they finally look up, the Good Shepherd is nowhere in sight.  Luckily, He is always searching for them to bring them back to Him so they don’t continue to be lost.  The best position is to be right beside God as a friend.  Every day He is there to give you advice and show you the right path uniquely suited just for you.  He cheers you on in the good times and is right there beside you to carry you through the bad times. The joy of this kind of relationship is unlimited.

Often, I think we look only to the future and think Heaven is the place we will be with God. But this kind of thinking forgets that Jesus said the Kingdom of God is here now, not just sometime in the future.  Eternity begins for each one of us at our birth, not at our death.  Now we walk with God through the Spirit, but in the future we will see Him face to face.  It’s only a matter of opening your heart and taking that first step…