The other day as I sat next to my river (the Marne) I had a thought: God loves to walk in beautiful places with us.

He loved walking with Adam, then Eve in the cool of the evening. He’s still walking with those who love Him. He’s made gardens everywhere–rivers, mountains, valleys, seashores.

When we go there and get quiet inside we hear his slow footsteps around us.

Some things mess it up for us. For Eve it was a quest to know, to be like God. She wanted God to scoot over on the throne to make room for her, so that she could run her life and the world, I suppose.

For Adam I think it was a relationship gone wrong. Eve was no longer the same after she ate the fruit, and to keep her he had to disobey God and become what she had become.

And the evening walks stopped.

Sitting there, a breeze murmuring God’s voice in the leaves of a tree, river’s water flowing His peace into my soul, I realized that God didn’t quit walking with His people.

Those who love Him can spend time with Him.

Twelve minutes away, in front of our apartment, thousands of cars bellow and snort exhaust fumes,. But here God and I walk and talk.

When I lived in Hautvillers he walked with me through the vineyards. In Guignicourt we rode bikes together (if the Lord has a bike).

God is a walk-in-the-garden God. Do you have a place where you like to walk with Him?

The heavens proclaim the glory of God.

The skies display his craftsmanship.

Day after day they continue to speak;

    night after night they make him known.

They speak without a sound or word;

    their voice is never heard.

Yet their message has gone throughout the earth,

    and their words to all the world…

May the words of my mouth

    and the meditation of my heart

be pleasing to you,

    O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

(Ps. 19:1-4, 14) New Living Translation

If you would like to visit my river (in a video), here it is: https://www.facebook.com/david.porter.5832

Photo: Charles Porter