Walking Prayer [poem]

Summary: A simple walk on the beach becomes a moment of calm, where the speaker talks through their worries. As they continue to walk, breathing gets easier and they realize the ancestors were with them the whole time.

I walked the beach with my shoes in my hand
told myself I was just clearing my head in the sand
wasn’t looking for God
wasn’t trying to pray
just needed a walk
at the end of the day

started talking about money, about time
about how I say I’m fine when I’m mostly just trying
the waves kept coming, same pace, same sound
like they’d heard all this before and weren’t judging me now

I said the same worry twice, then laughed at myself
waited for answers like they’d be on a shelf
nothing came down
nothing lit up
but my chest eased open
and that felt like enough

I catch myself breathing in someone else’s faith
realize I’m standing in answered grace
every step I take was asked for by name
by people who loved me before I had aim

I’ve been walking inside someone else’s hope
every step I take was asked for before
by mouths that prayed when I couldn’t see more

by the turn back home, sky going dim
nothing was fixed, but I could breathe again
guess that was prayer
didn’t plan it that way
just a walk, some words
and God tagging along for the day