Prayer Walks & Petals

*~ A quiet morning, a sleepy bee, and one perfectly timed whisper from God ~*

Before the Walk: A Hope-Filled Exhausting but Fun Weekend

By the time Monday rolled around, I was running on fumes. My battery had hit zero.

It wasn’t just that the weekend was packed—it started the moment I clocked out of work Friday evening. That night was the first J-Hope’s Hope on the Stage concert, and from there, it never let up.

Saturday morning kicked off early with a breakfast and lunch meet-up in Sylmar with coworkers, followed by a J-Hope’s pop-up shop in downtown LA. After that, we made a stop at the Hope on the Stage merch booth at BMO Stadium. Then I had to drive all the way back to Sylmar to pick up my car, head down to Baldwin Hills for dinner with a married couple I’m close to, and spend another hour charging my car before I finally got home—somewhere near midnight.

Sunday was just as packed: early morning church setup, service, a small group leaders’ meeting, then another J-Hope concert that night. After the concert, I took the train back to my car and made it home close to midnight again.

Every bit of it was joyful and meaningful. I’m not complaining—I wanted to do all of it. So when Monday came around, I gave myself permission to rest. I took the day off—not out of laziness, but because I needed to recover. I hadn’t even fully gotten ready for the day yet, but I knew I needed to move. To breathe. To reset.

So I didn’t even fully get ready for the day. I just slipped on socks and shoes and stepped outside to take a walk—and pray.

Shifting the Scenery

It was a hazy LA morning, but still beautiful. The sun warmed my skin as I walked, the palm trees swayed gently above, and a light breeze followed me down the path. Along the way, I noticed purple flowers—possibly daisies—and bright hibiscus in bloom.

I’d forgotten it was spring.

I didn’t take pictures. I was using my phone to pray through voice-to-text with ChatGPT, so I couldn’t stop and capture anything. But that was okay. I was present. Fully immersed.

“Prayer is not asking. It is a longing of the soul.” — Mahatma Gandhi

Prayers in Real Time

As I walked, I started to pray aloud—trying to remember everyone on my heart. The words came out unfiltered, messy, unstructured. It was more like a stream of consciousness than a quiet time outline.

I lifted up:

My book projects and the creative energy to finish them, my finances and upcoming travel plans, friends, the hope for love, clarity, and meaningful connection. Even my own dream to one day see BTS up close at barricade.

It was less polished, more real. And somehow, that made it feel sacred.

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” — Philippians 4:6

The Bee Moment

Then something unexpected caught my eye—a bee, lying still on the sidewalk.

It wasn’t moving, and I didn’t know if it was sleeping or dead. I remembered reading that bees sometimes just rest, completely motionless. I didn’t want it to be stepped on, so I gently picked it up and placed it into a nearby flower. Just in case it still had life in it.

That quiet act of kindness felt like a prayer in itself.

Placing something small and fragile into beauty, trusting that maybe—just maybe—it could come back to life. Isn’t that what prayer is?

“You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.” — Isaiah 26:3

When God Speaks in Timing

By the time I reached my front door, I felt lighter—physically and emotionally.

And then, right as I opened the door, I heard my phone speak aloud through ChatGPT’s voice-to-text feature:

“You’re home now, Amy, in more ways than one.”

The timing was uncanny. I literally stepped through the door as the words were said. I paused. Smiled. Laughed a little. Was it a coincidence? Maybe. But to me, it felt like something more.

It felt like grace.

“Sometimes God calms the storm, and sometimes He lets the storm rage and calms His child.” — Anonymous

Soul Insights

1. Sometimes, a change of scenery is the holiest thing you can do.

A walk can reset you in ways sitting still can’t. The world outside has its own healing rhythm.

2. Prayer doesn’t need a script.

You don’t need polished words or perfect structure. You just need honesty—and a willing heart.

3. Noticing is its own kind of worship.

The flowers, the breeze, the bee… they were all part of God’s quiet conversation with me.

4. You don’t need to be polished to be present.

I wasn’t showered or put together. I was simply there. And that was enough for God.

5. Divine timing is real.

When words match footsteps and a door opens to confirmation, that’s more than coincidence. That’s love.

Final Thoughts

Prayer isn’t always kneeling or whispering.

Sometimes, it’s walking through your neighborhood, half-awake, thoughts jumbled, and heart wide open.

“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” — Psalm 34:18

That Monday morning, I didn’t just go for a walk—I returned to myself.

To peace.

To presence.

To God.

And when I heard those words—You’re home now, Amy, in more ways than one—I knew… I had arrived.

Your Turn

What’s one ordinary moment where you felt God speak to you in an unexpected way?

Drop it in the comments. I’d love to hear your story.

Bonus Section

Bee Fact: Are Bees Hard to Wake Up?

Yes—bees can be surprisingly hard to wake up.

When bees sleep, they become still and quiet, their antennae stop moving, and their legs may loosen or curl underneath them. It’s especially hard to tell if a bee is sleeping, cold, or near the end of its life.

🐝 Bees are cold-blooded. On chilly mornings or shaded sidewalks, they often become too cold to fly. They need warmth—like sunshine or a flower’s shelter—to “recharge.”

🐝 Bees get tired. Just like us, bees can wear themselves out. After long flights and nonstop foraging, they might stop wherever they are to rest.

🐝 Bees sleep deeply. They have real sleep cycles and may not respond immediately if disturbed. A sleepy bee isn’t necessarily hurt—it may just need time and warmth.

So if a bee doesn’t buzz back to life right away—like the one I gently picked up—don’t worry. You didn’t do anything wrong. It may simply be resting, asleep, or in need of warmth.

Soul Path Insights