Rails to Trails

photo credit: Aaron Springston

Have you heard about the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy? Unused railroad tracks in the United States are being turned into scenic and safe walking trails, 2,209 of them which equal the circumference of the Earth! In Britain, more than 50,000 miles of footpaths are being added to modern maps in order to keep them from disappearing. They join more than 140,000 miles already mapped and preserved. These paths serve walkers, joggers, bicyclers, and those pushing baby carriages and walking dogs. They are safe ways to enjoy nature and get exercise, to walk from school or work, to think and to meditate. As Danish philosopher Søren Kierkegaard wrote, “I know of no thought so burdensome that one cannot walk away from it.” Walking seems a perfect activity for us during a time of pandemic and worldwide upheaval. Clearing the mind while exercising the body and breathing deeply will surely lead to timely new ways of thinking and a shift in attitude. What a relief!

"Walking in the light, we are accustomed to the light and require it; we cannot see in darkness. But eyes accustomed to darkness are pained by the light. When outgrowing the old, you should not fear to put on the new." Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 452:6