Walking as creating space for connection.

Since returning to Michigan the weather has turned colder, the wind howling and people often huddling indoors, except for brief appearances outdoors.   My desire to walk and take in the world persists. 

Alice and I went out for a vigorous walk soon after returning.  We chose the North Country Trail traveling north from Lowell to Fallasburg. The trail is fairly well marked, but now covered by fallen leaves.  Sometimes the leaves cover the trail and make it less obvious.   We found the old patterns taking over.   Walk 10 km ;  stop to take a break;  walk another 10 km.  The familiarity is reassuring and pleasurable.   But the old patterns are not enough.  We are no longer in Spain.  We are here.   We want to retain some of the feeling of the Camino.  Without the new landscapes and expectations of every day, it’s easy for conflicts or irritability to intrude.  We have to face our differences and the distance that can creep in. 

Last week I went out walking over to 1111 Godfrey to visit the Grand Rapids Coffee Roasters.   It’s about 3 miles each way.  As I walked past the busy Wealthy Street district, the crowds fell away and I was alone.  There was a chill in the air and wind.  I was aware of being alone.  The walk was invigorating, though, and I came upon a new store I had not seen on South Division.  The store sold aquariums, but also a new concept for me – wabi sabi waterscapes.   Water plants with a feeling of sadness, incompleteness, or deterioration.   Wabi sabi is a Japanese concept for finding beauty in incompleteness and decay.    I purchased a gift certificate for my step-daughter, knowing that she would love this store.   But I also felt that I was experiencing this same incompleteness in my walk.    An emptiness that is preparing space for something beautiful, without guarantee that it will appear. 

The coffee roaster was closed, but I did run into the Native sculptor who has a studio there at 1111 Godfrey.  The mutual recognition and appreciation felt good.  We chatted for a few minutes.  Perhaps I will do a portrait of him and his partner. I’d like to do that. 

Walking back home, I stopped in Rowster Coffee, as I still had no coffee.   There a young lady waited on me and we discussed the technique for making coffee with the Italian Moka Pot.  She ground some coffee for me at the correct size and I gave her a Youtube reference.   My had dropped and was lost.  

This week I joined my wife and step-daughter on a short trip to Chicago, an annual trip for them.  The goal is the Christkindl market and shopping for Christmas presents for the family.  We took the South Shore Line which is always a pleasant and relaxing way to get into the city.   I said good-bye as they went off shopping and explored the city by foot.  Again, on Thursday morning, I arose early and headed out by myself.   Heading back to my old stomping grounds in the Mexican neighborhood and visited the clinic where I worked as a resident, as well as a Mexican art museum.  I came upon a woman selling hot tamales on the sidewalk.  She had been up at 4 am cooking and now stood outside in the freezing weather to make a few dollars to sustain herself and her family.   We chatted and exchanged pleasantries in Spanish while I ate the wonderful tamal.  Why do you want to take my picture she asked anxiously?  Because what you are doing is important to me, making a pounding motion over my heart.  She smiled. 

Walking and not filling your life with extraneous needs and distractions can be lonely, but it does allow other people and experiences in, and the chance  for meaningful connections.   It can appear fragile and failing like wabi sabi, but also welcoming.

Merry Christmas to all, and spread a little cheer to a stranger while you are at it. You might be surprised that you receive more than you gave.