Praying With My Feet in Presqu'ile

 

Yesterday I left Belleville as dawn was breaking for Pontypool, near Lindsay. My purpose was taking daughter Jocelyn to the new Canadian Canoe Museum in Peterborough but I left early so I could be there as our two grandkids got on the bus. That was fun and the museum delivered on this second occasion to walk through the display hall. There are 115 canoes and kayaks on exhibit, I overheard from a tour, and another 150 in storage. 

The trips up and back were an unexpected bonus with glorious Fall colours along the way. As I drove north from Port Hope the sun was rising, turning stands of deciduous trees into stained glass windows. to my surprise I found myself quite emotional because of the unanticipated beauty. 

My plan was to scoot directly home after our outing but as I approached the Brighton exit from Highway 401 I had a carpe diem moment and headed down to Presqu'ile Provincial Park on Lake Ontario. I settled on the short Jobe's Woods trail and it was marvelous. At one point I decided to kick my feet through the leaves and was transported back to childhood. 

It occurred to me that swishing through Autumn leaves is a unique seasonal sound unfamiliar to most of the planet's population and that I was praying with my feet. I've written in the past about "prayer walking" a contemplative form of sensory sauntering akin to the now popular forest bathing. We might consider prayer with our eyes and ears as well as our hearts and minds, so why not our feet? 

Do you recall when I asked whether there were hymns about the marvels of Winter and reader Shirley wrote delightful lyrics in response. I wonder if there are any hymns that extoll the wonders of Fall colours, brisk temperatures, drifting leaves? 

I hope you are able to "seize the day" for a walk in the woods, wherever you may be. Please praise the Creator while you're out there, and kick a few leaves along the path.