Get away and be still

So I haven't posted on my dear old blog ad I realized that I quite miss it. 

So just yesterday a friend and I took a nice long 2 hour sunday afternoon walk. It was lovely really. We walked from our house down Ivanhoe to Holland, over to Holmberg park, then snaked our way through the neighborhoods to five mile and back to campus. We didn't talk about anything that deep or anything, we admired what we liked about each house we passed and just enjoyed each other's company. It was not that warm really. It was kind of a grey day but walking is such a lovely way to spend an afternoon. It's slow paced so you get to enjoy the beauty of the nature around you and spend quality time with people(in addition to getting a small dose of fresh air and exercise). I don't generally have time to get out and walk as often as I would like these days but when I do it is a lovely escape from the business of life. Over the summer a friend and I would walk every day after work. We chose to walk briskly to get exercise but it was still a wonderful way to spend the last few hours of daylight.

It's a also a fun way to get out and explore your surroundings which can be quite charming even on the worst days. Another way I enjoy taking time is by riding my bike around. It lets me cover more ground more quickly, but the pace is still slower than driving and lets you get out and be in touch with nature. I plan on going out for a bike ride this afternoon actually. I've got the day off and it's finally sunny outside! (this is not to be confused with warm...it is still winter in Spokane...) 

In college group at church on thursday a friend talked on the idea of being still. It's nearly impossible these days with how wired and scheduled out lives are. Being still is hard for us. But when we take that time to be still, rest, and listen to God, it could not be more rewarding. Sometimes I do this by taking my camera and going exploring, it makes me slow down and observe the little intricacies of the world around me. This can be achieved by walking, biking, taking the dog for a walk, going somewhere in seclusion etc. College is so hectic and you spend your whole time around other people that sometimes you just need to leave them all behind to get away and recharge your batteries. 

So get away and enjoy some alone time. You'd be surprised how much good it will do for you. In fact, I think I will go on my bike ride right now :)