Walking Meditation: Inner Clarity

Let's take a walk for inner clarity with this Walking Meditation. Align your inner world with your outer world through breath, Scripture, and the five senses. For more on the Inner Clarity theme, see page 93 of With God in Every Breath by Whitney R. Simpson. 

Transcript

Invitation To A Walking Meditation

SPEAKER_00 0:01

Hi, I'm Whitney and you're listening to Exploring Peace Meditations. Today's invitation is to walk with me. So, if you are somewhere where you can put on some shoes, maybe bundle up as I record this, it's quite chilly where I live, and join me outside. If that doesn't feel right, you can walk inside or wherever you may find yourself. Just know that as I offer this to you, I'll be traveling in my mind in God's creation. So if you need to imagine that, go for it. One note for you as a listener. If your body does not allow you to walk for whatever reason today, whether it's temporary or long term, would you imagine with us? Would you imagine walking, moving, and breathing? Our brains are miraculous. So join us on this walk in whatever way works for you. As we begin, listen to Matthew chapter 5, verse 8 from the message. Jesus said, You're blessed when you get your inside world, your mind and heart put right. Then you can see God in the outside world. Listen again. You're blessed when you get your inside world, your mind and heart put right. Then you can see God in the outside world. Let those words sink in a bit as we open our time with a blessing and feel free to begin walking and listen. Creator God, thank you. Thank you for the magnificent way you've made each of us. Our minds and our hearts. Let those line up today with our outside world. Not just nature and the trees and the world you created, but the life we reflect, who we are, what we say, how we act. Thank you, God, for the chance to pause and seek inner clarity with you as we move and breathe. Begin to notice if you haven't already, your feet on the ground. Do you feel the connection? The connection of each foot touching the earth. Whether you're walking in your home, outside in a quiet neighborhood, or in a bustling city, be reminded that God is with you in each step. As we walk today, be mindful. Be mindful of the sensations within and around you. We begin with the feet. Feel your feet touch the earth. Notice how your feet feel in your shoes. Can you spread your toes? Let your awareness travel up through your physical body, checking in with your legs, allowing that awareness to travel to your hips, core, arms, all the way to the top of your head. Bring your awareness to your breath as you walk. Maybe your pace is slow and purposeful. Maybe you've picked it up a bit. There's not a right or wrong approach. Allow your breath to move through your body as you notice it. Does your chest and belly expand on the inhale? Do you feel your body deflate as you exhale? Can you notice the temperature as the air enters your nose? What do you notice as you exhale through your mouth? Now bring awareness to your mind, your thoughts. What's been in your mind today or on your mind? Do you need inner clarity? Take a moment and offer a silent prayer to God as you walk, asking for inner clarity on whatever arises. Walk and talk to God silently. Ask God for inner clarity today. Take a moment and notice what you hear. It may simply and obviously be the sound of my voice or the healing meditation music in the background. What else do you hear? Now let your awareness travel to your eyes, your vision. What do you see? If you are imagining with us, what can you imagine that you see? If you are looking as you walk right now, notice what you physically see in front of you, around you, beneath you, above you. Name as many unique things to yourself or to God that you can see right now with your very own eyes next, I invite you to notice smell. What do you smell? Is there a scent in the fresh air? Is there a smell from around you, within you, nearby? Maybe it's the detergent on your clothes or the shampoo you used in your hair. Maybe it's the scent of a car driving by. Maybe it's the scent of fresh air, flowers, trees. What do you smell right now? Our awareness travels within us for this next sense. As we check in with our taste, what do you taste? Maybe it's your morning beverage you still taste, or your last meal that you had. Maybe it's your toothpaste or a piece of gum. This sense doesn't always come as easily and takes us a moment to check in with our own bodies. What do you taste? Next, I invite you to touch something around you. Maybe you're near a tree or some grass. Can you touch the earth beneath you? What does it feel like to touch this item? What do you notice in your sensations as your amazing body sends signals to your brain telling you about the texture, the shape, the weight, the size. Maybe one sense was easier than another. Did you see, hear, or smell something you might not have noticed otherwise? Does your mind feel more present or calm? Simply notice there's not a right or wrong answer. I'll invite you to continue to walk, to use your senses, to be present in the world, and to open your heart to gratitude for this body of yours and the world around you. Take some time as the music continues to walk slowly, purposefully, mindfully, letting yourself experience the presence of God and God's kingdom and the magnificence of God that is within you and around you.com. My books and more are at WhitneyRsimpson.com. That's me, Whitney. I'm honored to walk with you as we explore the gift of God's peace together. So let us pray and then walk as long as you wish. Creator God, thank you. Thank you for helping us use our very own body and our senses to seek inner clarity. Let us be present with you. Let us practice that and all that we do. Thank you for the gift of our bodies. May we use them to sense not only what is happening within us and around us, but also your presence that it is always here. May we listen for you and notice you more clearly within ourselves and within the world around us. In your holy name we pray. Amen. Until next time, may God's peace be with you.