(Photo by Selma Komisky)

Walking Like Enoch

By Susan Park

With the pandemic going on, people are finding ways to enjoy life more and feel renewed during this uncertain time.  An activity I enjoy is taking a walk outside.  As a writer, I like to walk around my neighborhood to figure out my story ideas. The steady movement of my feet as I absorb the sights and sounds of my neighborhood inspires me to think of new ideas.  The more I walk, the more I become physically healthy and grow stronger.  Walking becomes a creative writing session and physical exercise rolled into one delightful experience.

I enjoy these solo walks, but walking with a close friend transforms the walking experience into a soul-expressing, heart-connecting revival.  When we walk together, we share openly about our lives and what is on our hearts.  We talk candidly about the variety of life moments we’re experiencing, ranging from the hilarious to the difficult.  We also share the God moments in our lives and make the mutual realization that “it’s all God!”  We confide with each other about our most personal life stories and promise to keep them safe in our hearts as we encourage one another.  As we walk together step by step, our friendship continues to grow and thrive.

The story of Enoch reminds me of the close-knit friendships––walking life together––that I experience in my own life.

“When Enoch had lived 65 years, he became the father of Methuselah.  After he became the father of Methuselah, Enoch walked faithfully with God 300 years and had other sons and daughters.  Altogether, Enoch lived a total of 365 years.  Enoch walked faithfully with God; then he was no more, because God took him away.”

For most of Enoch’s life, he experienced a close connection with God as he walked consistently with Him.  I wonder what kind of life moments Enoch shared with God.  I imagine he shared with God as vulnerably as I do with my close friends because he was honest about the most difficult situations of his life.  I can also imagine Enoch sharing a funny story with God about something one of his kids did the other day. I wonder how many personal life stories Enoch shared with God during his long life.

Enoch’s life in those four verses of Genesis paints a beautiful picture of someone who enjoyed a lifelong intimate friendship with God.  Enoch shared one life moment after another with God that deepened into a close connection with Him.  We can walk like Enoch and draw closer to God.  The more we walk with God, the more we become spiritually healthy and grow in maturity.  I believe we all can have that same intimate friendship with God by sharing our personal moments with Him every day as we walk with Him step by step, moment by moment just like Enoch lived and experience continued revival in our lives.