Lift Your Eyes: Walk Looking Up

Lift Your Eyes: Walk Looking Up

I love walking. I find that walking improves my mental health, enhances my wellbeing, and deepens my spirituality. There is something about the rhythm of placing one foot in front of the other, the fresh air filling my lungs, and the changing scenery that brings clarity and peace. Walking in the countryside, especially in Yorkshire, is where I most sense and connect with God. The vast open spaces, rolling hills, and endless skies remind me of His presence. There, I feel truly alive. Unfortunately, I don’t often get the opportunity to walk in Yorkshire.

Each day, however, I do spend a lot of time walking around central London. London is a city full of life—people rushing to meetings, tourists exploring landmarks, and the ever-present hum of movement. As I walk through the streets, I notice something striking: so many people walk with their heads down. They look down at their mobile phones, distracted by the digital world. Others look down at the pavement, lost in thought. There is a whole city around them, yet they remain disconnected from it.

I make a conscious effort to do something different. I lift my head. I look up.

When I look up, I see the world around me. I notice the details of London’s historic and contemporary architecture, the glint of light on the glass buildings, the ever-changing skyline. I see people, each with their own story. I take in the sounds, the energy, and the chaos of the moment. Lifting my head changes my perspective—not just physically, but spiritually.

The Psalmist writes:

“I look to the mountains; where will my help come from? My help will come from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.” ‭‭Psalm‬ ‭121‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭(GNT)‬‬

There is something profound about this. Looking up is an act of faith. When we lift our eyes, we shift our focus from our own worries to the One who is greater. We remember that our help, our strength, and our hope come from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.

So, I encourage us all to walk more. Walking can improve our mental, physical, and spiritual health. But as we walk, let us also lift our heads and our eyes, taking in the world around us—the chaos, the people, the presence of God in unexpected places.

Walk more. Look up. See the world. Find God in the journey.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

My last blog (for now…!)

Image
My last blog (for now…!) There are times when words alone can’t fully capture the story of our lives—the mountain tops and the valley bottoms. Often songs come into my head that help me better articulate what I’m experiencing, and this past weekend I’ve been singing these words; Jesus, What a Saviour You Are “ You are my strength When all my strength has ended You are my hope When all my hope is gone You are my joy When my world is full of sorrow You’re the peace in my tomorrow For I know that You’ll be there… ” These words summarise my testimony. The past 18-months have been fairly traumatic for me, filled with more change, pain, and growth than I ever could have imagined. I write my thoughts and reflections down because I find it helpful—and I hope that, in some small way, sharing my experiences might help others too. This is my last blog (for a while…!), as taking a break from writing is for me a symbolic act of closing one chapter and starting another. Recent months have been marke...
Read more

Rethinking Homelessness Services: A Call for Change in The Salvation Army

Rethinking Homelessness Services: A Call for Change in The Salvation Army For over a hundred years, The Salvation Army in the United Kingdom and Ireland has provided vital homelessness services. In more recent history, these services have often been funded through contracts with Local Authorities. These contracts usually dictate how services operate, setting financial limits, service models, and key performance indicators (KPIs). While they ensure some level of support and accommodation is available, they also present significant challenges—challenges that make me question whether this is still the right model to be used. The Problem with Contracted Services At first glance, contracts appear to offer stability and reduce risk. They provide funding, structure, and a framework for homelessness service provision. However, they also force providers—charities, faith groups, and housing associations—into a competitive business model that simply doesn’t work for a people-focused sector. Inste...
Read more

Releasing All People into Flourishing Mission and Ministry

Releasing All People into Flourishing Mission and Ministry I today had opportunity to have coffee with the one and only Andrew Vertigan. It was good to share with Andrew, especially as he co-leads my home church and was pivotal in my own call to ministry.  Afterwards, my mind turned to the following questions:  • What happens when leaders don’t fit into a box? • What happens when leaders don’t flourish on their own? • What happens when leaders have their skills, talents, and preferences assumed? These are vital questions for The Salvation Army today. As we seek to be a movement led by the Spirit, sent into the world to proclaim the good news of Jesus, we must consider how we release people into ministry and mission in ways that allow them to truly flourish. Some leaders flourish best in structured, clearly defined roles, while others, like myself, thrive in the messiness of life. I flourish best in messy, intergenerational settings where life is lived out in supportive, loving...
Read more