Exercising & Prayng with a Red-Tailed Hawk

 

                        

                                                                           Red-Tailed Hawk 

Recently there were a couple of  headlines about the value of exercise in treating depression based on news from a broad study. This sure makes sense to me given that I live in what can feel like the land of perpetual darkness approaching and beyong the Winter Solstice and once again we've experienced lots of days with only meagre sunlight.

Of course, headlines are meant to grab us and further reading suggests that while what were actually a number of studies involving more than 5,000 people indicate that exercise in a variety of forms is helpful although: "a combination of therapy, medication, and other methods, such as meditation and exercise, would lead to a more wholesome treatment plan,"

We can read "prayer" along with "meditation", it seems to me, in this time when speaking of prayer has fallen out of fashion. I do go to the gym more often in these colder and icier days but we still get outside as often as we can, pulling on the cleats for stability. This morning I took advantage of the mild temperature to cycle along the Belleville waterfront and up the Moira River.

Addressing body, mind, and spirit is what we are encouraged to  do as people of faith and certainly what Jesus modelled. He was always on the move and would climb a hillside or mountain to pray or have a mystical encounter. I know from our several times in Galilee that there are a multitude of bird species he might have seen. 

A couple of days ago we walked another section of that waterfront trail and at one point a large bird we assumed was a crow zoomed quite close overhead. We then realized it was a red-tailed hawk which circled wide and then came back to land on a lamp pole. We stayed still and watched this raptor and it seemed to be checking us out before deciding we were old but not dead and flew off. Red-tailed hawks are relatively common across North America but there was stlll a sense of wonder in this "I-thou" moment. This was a serendipitous prayer walk. 

The other day we had an intriguing family messaging chat (seven of us) about our resolutions for 2026, if any,  and I mentioned renewing my commitment to being a "be-wild-ered outsider" as often as possible. I feel that this is a calling and a form of discipleship that I want to fulfill. I know, too, that I am healthier in all ways including spiritual when I follow Jesus' example.