Walking and Talking

Walking and talking are lost arts. Whether done on their own or in conjunction, this fact remains: people no longer walk the way they used to, and quite frankly, most of the ‘talking’ that this world does can hardly be called conversation at all. Texts, emojis, and 3-second vanishing pictures do not a conversation make.

Now, by ‘walking’ I do not only mean the physical act of walking from place A to B. Rather, I’m talking about the conscious, all time-consuming, seemingly pointless, archaic practice of grabbing your coat, a hat, and a person (optional) and heading out into the world to - you guessed it - simply walk around in it. 

Stemming from ‘walking’ is ‘talking’, another art that we have lost sight of altogether. ‘Talking’ has little to do with the mere exchange of words between souls - for enough of that occurs in this world as it is, and we would do well without much of it. By ‘talking’ I am referring to the act of sharing in rich conversation and fellowship with another person; particularly face-to-face, made especially sweet when on a walk together.

To any sensible person, what I am saying is perfectly obvious. Only, these two simple and ancient facets of human existence and happiness, walking and talking, are completely foreign to many people in this world. In our society of hustle and bustle, of sound and fury, the idea of taking aside an hour from one’s day to walk aimlessly and talk deeply with a close friend (or in solitude) seems like an utter waste of time. We have altogether forgotten the words of Lord of the Rings author, J.R.R. Tolkien, when he said: “Not all those who wander are lost.”

Indeed, to prove this very point let us turn for a moment to the moral and ideological backwater-swamp known as TikTok. Several months ago, there was a trend on the social media platform called “Silent Walking”. Influencers and social media peddlers hailed the trend as ‘revolutionary’ and ‘groundbreaking’ in one’s pursuit of peace and calm. If someone wanted to enjoy “Silent Walking”, all they had to do was this: put on some comfortable shoes, leave their phone at home, and simply go outside and walk. No fuss, no noise, no distractions - just walk in the theater of nature’s beauty.

What a revelation! You mean to say that walking outside in the fresh air in peace and quiet while surrounded by the beauty of God’s created order is preferable over being flayed on a couch like a salmon in front of a screen? Whence cometh this wisdom! As much as social media influencers may want to take credit for discovering the act of walking, I’m afraid that they may be a little late to this particular party. Indeed, “What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 1:9). 

As expected, the proponents of “Silent Walking” were mocked mercilessly online. They were mocked not because they were wrong, for they were quite on the mark when it came to the benefits of walking. Rather, they were ridiculed because of their bold presumption that they alone discovered the thing that Adam himself no doubt did only minutes after his own creation - that is, walk in the garden of God’s glory sans Spotify, podcasts, or AirPods.

Walking and talking have been beautifully reliable fixtures in the life of my wife and I, going back as far as our first date. The pattern established on that first outing - a sharing in rich conversation as we walked around our small town, basked in the golden light of an August sun, followed by violet shades as the shadows began to gather under warm, lamp-lit streets - has since become a well-worn path that my wife and I walk daily; a dance that we have been engaging in ever since our first date.

To borrow words from my wife, there is a “timelessness” to these moments we spend together while walking and talking. A sense in which the veil of this world, of time itself, is lifted entirely. In these moments, the soul seems at rest in the cozy cottage of conversation; indeed, home feels ever so near. The tune of Heaven pierces the air; a place made up not of endless time, but of no time at all. On her blog, “Sparrows & Lilies”, my wife captures this reality of “timeless” and yet “timeful” moments with beautiful precision (for her entire thoughts on the matter, follow this link: https://elainabudimlic.wixsite.com/sparrowsandlilies/post/to-be-timeless). For the moment, allow these words of hers to suffice:

“But is that what eternity in Heaven will really feel like? The perpetual passing of time unendingly, stretching on and on forever? For the first time in my life, I don’t think so. Eternity in Heaven will not be infinite time, but timelessness. There will be no time. Yesterday will be as today, and today as tomorrow. We shall live in timeless bliss. Each moment will be time full, in the sense that there will be nothing lacking, there will be joyful satisfaction and complete fulfillment, all our longings coming to rest in the presence of the One we always longed for, were made for, without the angst of time. Our hearts will finally be free, released from the bondage of time, and freed to live each moment as its own. ‘Timeful moments of infinite duration’ (Sheldon Vanauken, A Severe Mercy). And that to me really does sound like Heaven, to be with Christ, infinitely, blissfully ignorant of time, because there is no time, and yet there will be all the time in the world.”

While terribly anachronistic, perhaps “Silent Walking” is the one wholesome thing to emerge from social media of late. Only, you need not be silent. Whether in solitude or with a companion, in silence or in speech, take time to walk in the cool of the Lord’s garden today, as Adam did. Walk and talk with your God, with your spouse, friend, or dog, or simply allow your mind to wander along with your feet in quiet reflection.