Developing a Heart for God: Sauntering with the Father
Perhaps the best word for discipleship is “saunter”. The correct pronunciation is “saan-tr”. According to dictionary.com, to saunter is to “walk in a slow, relaxed manner, without hurry or effort" or “a leisurely stroll”. I believe saunter is a beautiful word. John Muir, the famous environmentalist, said most people are what he called hikers. They rush through the forest to reach their destination, covering the greatest number of miles in the least amount of time possible. Muir stated that the origin of the word, saunter, dates to the Middle Ages when people used to go on pilgrimages to the Holy Land. When people in the villages asked the pilgrims where they were going, the travelers would reply, “A la sainted Terre", to the Holy Land. So, these pilgrims became known as “Sainte-Terre-ers” or “saunter-ers”. Muir encouraged people not to hike through the woods but to treat the woods as a holy place. He would say, “We should saunter through them, walking in a slow, relaxed manner, without hurry or effort.”
I can relate to John Muir. I am a former hiker, turned saunter-er. It is not unusual for me to go on 100 saunters a year. I am closest to my Heavenly Father when I am on a saunter. I live in an area referred to as “the Inland Northwest”, a section of America that encompasses eastern Washington, eastern Oregon, north Idaho, and western Montana. Coeur d’ Alene is right in the center of this beautiful area. There are more mountains and trails in which I can saunter than I can do in my lifetime and the beauty is stunning. I can drive 15 minutes from my house and be in the middle of nowhere. I absolutely love it. What if our lives were more of a saunter with God than a hurried, stress-filled, rat race. I believe we rush through life; we are so busy. Thanks for joining this community. There are people here from across America. Some are reading Gary's book, Pursuing the Heart of God. Many are joining book study groups. Others are completing the LIFE Sauntering Experience on www.SaunteringWithGod.com. This is a community. Introduce us to yourself, and your family! Post pictures and stories that tell us who you are. Share what God is saying to you. Ask questions. May this group be an expression of LIFE! Because LIFE happens here!!
