It’s a great day for some prayer and physical activity. Thanks for being here – we’re on the 36th Day of the Give-Back Diet.  Today, I want to encourage you to try a prayer walk.  Yes, it’s cold in many parts of the world, but I like to bundle up and walk anyway.  You can also do a prayer walk indoors, at home, at work, or at a shopping mall perhaps.

Prayer walks are simple and ancient ways to bring mindful prayer into your body.  Buddhist monks and initiates have done them for thousands of years.  Christians, too – some say Paul’s journey on the road to Damascus where he had a revelation, was a prayer walk.   Of course, prayer walks are not just for monks, nuns and clergy!  They’re for us, too.

ACTION PLAN:

— Take a prayer walk today.  It is easy: with every slow step speak or silently chant a word or a few words, of prayer.  It could be praise:  “Thank you God.”  or “Thy will, not mine.”  It could be “I am somebody.”  Or a prayer that you make up yourself that’s personally meaningful.  It could be a Scriptural passage, or a mantra or koan.

— I like to do a prayer walk specifically for a half hour or hour at a time.  It’s like a walking meditation.  In addition to taking slow steps, I also connect my breathing.  Inhaling, I take a step and chant some prayers, and exhaling, too.  This takes a lot of practice, and probably should only be done by those who have been prayer walking for a long time.  If you do try it, and if you experience any dizziness, of course stop immediately and breathe normally.

— I also do prayer walking just going about my day.  I like to pray continually, as St. Paul suggested.  I say a mental prayer with the beginning of every new thing: walking out the door, answering the phone, writing an email, beginning a meal or snack.

— Of course, keep going with your efforts to limit or avoid added sugar, and fatty foods.  The comments you have posted are great.  Keep it up!  I love the intentionality that I’m reading.  We’re just making best efforts on this program, it’s not about being perfect.

Here’s a question:  What are you thankful for in your life; something that you’d pray about, perhaps in a prayer walk?  Please post your answer, and “Give-Back” the thanks and inspire us.

HERE’S A LIST OF EVERY DAY OF THE “GIVE-BACK DIET.”  START TODAY!