Solvitur ambulando
Solvitur Ambulando, “it is solved by walking.” I first encountered this phrase in Thomas Long’s book What Shall We Say: Evil, Suffering, and the Crisis of Faith. (I recommend this book to everyone who asks and even to those who don’t ask; it is that good.)
I first read this phrase in Long’s book and soon after came across it a couple more times. Then I recalled some very wise advise from my New Testament professor: “If it is repeated, it must be important. If it is repeated, it must be important. If it is repeated…” So I have been thinking, or rather walking around with this phrase for a while. I find solvitur ambulando helpful in two ways.
The first way is known to anyone who has ever had to solve a problem, or been stuck creatively. At some point, it is best to walk away for a while. Garden, exercise, clean house, take a shower, sleep on it. Any of it works. The act of engaging our bodies and our thoughts with something else seems to allow our unconscious mind the freedom to find a way forward. A bit paradoxical, but it works.
