Let's Walk

Tonight as I walked to my car with a friend I realized what can happen over a few steps. As we ventured to the parking lot the conversation changed. It's not that it was better or worse than the few minutes prior but it became more personal. In a classroom, sure, we can talk. However, the distractions of other conversations and people coming and going bar communication to a certain stand-still. I may genuinely want to know how you are doing and will ask when in this setting. But if truly desiring an honest and complete response, this is not the setting to elicit that. Maybe this is just me and my "quality time" preferences manifesting itself...regardless though, I think that the level of communication differs with walking.

When I consider my responses it is interesting how they vary across settings. As an introvert, they should be more determined by the people who I am with. Instead though, the level of genuine interest in another - anyone really - and the willingness to reciprocate or share seems to depend more on the setting. A very focused and communal setting, like chapel, should create an environment for communication. As I noticed today though with another friend, the conversation changed to a more personal one as we walked out afterwards together. In a classroom, even if small, the depth of conversation is not what it becomes once you begin to walk out.

Is it the walking out, the leaving of the structured environment where we are at the very least aware of basic expectations, and heading "to" the world that fosters this change? Or is it that as people walk, the distance between those ahead and behind increases, creating more space and fewer distractions for communication? Or is it knowing that someone is going with you and willing to put distractions aside and listen? Or is there something to moving - having the ability to be with one or two people but also able to focus (perhaps subconsciously) on stepping forward? Whatever it is, I find it interesting.

A lot of life is spent stepping from the structured environments of our comfort zone to grounds that are yet to be realized and traveled. Neither location is better than the other. One just happens to bear less uncertainty. In both locations though it is easy to get caught up in the distractions, whether that be other people who come and go or the dwelling on of the future. These factors mount up alongside us like blinders that keep us from recognizing who is beside us as we walk out. Distractions from both the the safe, structured grounds of life and the unknown, un-level grounds of life glue and make us immobile. Let us look around and notice who else is walking out too. Let the conversation change. Let us walk.