I have walked over 8 miles in the past two days.

Not because I’ve adopted some crazy fitness regimen or because my car broke down somewhere, but rather because I have been bitten by the Pokemon bug.

Alas, I have been infected with the desire to “Catch ‘Em All” and I can’t shake it.

My husband and kiddo have also been playing Pokemon Go and we’ve gathered more of the sneaky little digital creatures than we can count.

At one point, my husband looked over at me and said he could better understand the show’s motto after playing the game.

“I do want to ‘Catch ‘Em All,'” he said with a grin.

I do, too.

We walk in the morning, we walk in the evening and we count our steps with glee.

We’ve traveled over sidewalks we’ve never seen before, explored parks and creeks with interest and found ourselves among other people who are out doing the same thing.

While you might not understand the Pokemon aspect of this adventurous game, I am sure you will understand the light-hearted joy that comes along with it.

Pokemon is a game, television show and movie that came out in the early 1990s.

It was something I grew up with. I collected the cards, watched the show and enjoyed the entire ordeal immensely.

Now, I can share that with my child and my husband as we take treks through parks, streets and fields.

However, it has also brought together large groups of people in the Jamestown area to converse, travel together and share in the fun.

You can see gads of people wandering around, laughing and joking together as they excitedly track down these “pocket monsters” together.

“There’s a Clefairy over there,” they’ll say to one another, racing to find it.

Even the businesses and organizations downtown have embraced this new phenomenon.

The Prendergast Library has opened its arms to Pokemon players, letting everyone know they are a “Poke Stop” where players can get more supplies in the game.

The Harvest Time Cafe has opened with night time hours to accommodate players and has also offered a 10 percent discount to those playing the game.

Overall, it appears that on a community, national and global level, people are overwhelmingly embracing this game and running with it.

While nostalgia and exercise are two very good reasons to love this game, it also begs a mention that the game is overwhelmingly positive.

It’s a light and airy activity to focus on in the midst of what can be a very dark and scary world.

Instead of focusing on the news and the state of the world, this game is bringing people outside into the world to have fun together.

Personally, that’s why I think this game has caught on so well.

People are thirsting for something more than negativity. They are looking for anything to grab on to that reminds them there is joy and there are good things in the world.

While I do enjoy the game myself, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the fact that there is more than Pokemon that can bring joy.

Pokemon Go – while it is fun to play and gives people a good reason to get out and get active – it will not solve the problems in the world.

However, there is and there will always be a Heavenly Father who loves and calls out for his children.

While God probably won’t put out a fun, game-based app that will lead you to him, he does call you home after your journey from a far.

God put out his message in the Bible, he put out his call on your heart and he waits for your answer wherever you are.

You don’t have to enable GPS tracking on your phone for him to find you, and you don’t have to wait for a server to load.

Rather, if you will let him in, God is always available and will accept you even if you are on Team Valor. (Haha!)

In all seriousness, he will love, support, guide and comfort you on your journey through life, no matter what.

Even when we are in the “depths of despair,” as Anne of Green Gables would say, he is with us and he is for us.

Even though I’ve walked farther this weekend than I have in a long time, after writing this, I’m realizing I might have a little bit more walking to do.

Not on real streets in my city, but rather a prayerful walk with God.

I pray that you all find your love and compassion in the Lord, that you shelter yourself in his rest and that your Pokemon hunting is plentiful.

Dear friends, let us come together in love, walk together in peace and leave with our hearts full.

That, to me, is the greatest catch of all.