A Good Walk

In Wiltshire we are blessed to live in a beautiful part of the country. Gentle hills, flat valley plains, patchwork quilt fields, stately flowing rivers and bubbling streams. A bit of coastline would be nice, but we can’t have it all. The county has some great countryside walks. Just lately the wife and I have taken to wandering along the Kennet and Avon Canal towpath. From Semington to Devizes and from Bradford on Avon to Dundas are a couple of our favourite walks.

As opposed to hurtling by in a car, walking gives you time to stop and stare at the beauty of nature. You notice a hazel tree draped in spring catkins and sunlight shimmering on the canal waters forming intricate patterns on the underside of a bridge. 

At some points along the way canal, railway line and river run in parallel. You think of all the effort that went in to digging out the canals as arteries of industry, building locks and bridges. Only for them to fall into virtual disuse with the advent of steam railways. You notice the contrast between the almost stagnant water in the canal and the living waters of the river running by.

There’s nothing like a good walk.

The life of faith is often likened to a walk in the Bible. We are told that Enoch walked with God. Jesus spoke of the narrow gate through which we may enter the narrow way that leads to life. The believer is not wandering aimlessly, lost and all alone. He is going home to the Father through Jesus who is the way back to God. In the words of the 23rd Psalm those who walk with God can say,

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil;

For You are with me;

Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

* For May's News & Views, West Lavington Parish Magazine