Karla Hackney, writing in Hillsboro Patch in Oregon, probes how treks in green spaces can be more deeply healing.

The author really caught my attention when she referred to a friend’s pilgrimage in Spain on the Camino de Santiago trail.

Recently, I enjoyed watching a movie entitled, “The Way“, in which the main character, played by Martin Sheen, hikes this trail when he goes to Spain to claim the body of his estranged son, who was killed while hiking the same trail.

On this trail, Hackney’s friend finds deeper meaning in favorite Bible verses and with this comes freedom from infection and pain.  Hackney includes a link to a 7 minute audio account by her friend.

Houses on hillside in Spain (©Glowimages/stock photo)

Another friend reached out “for a connection with God’s infinite love” while summiting Mount Washington.

Hackney says, “In hiking, the important part is to ‘summit,’ to get to that place where, in our heart, we rise above everyday challenges and we don’t allow information from the five physical senses to cloud the pinnacle of God’s beautiful, spiritual creation. We don’t have to locate ourselves in a forest before we can find spiritual peace!”

A touching and helpful article, worth reading.

To read it, click title: Are green spaces healing spaces?