serena – Page 14 – SereneLiving

Autumn

My daughter posted this on Facebook recently: “Everything about today hinted at fall. The woodsmoke smell, the crisp cool air, the few scattered leaves on the ground, the rustling of wind in trees and the taste of hair blown into my mouth. Each lingers teasingly in my sensory memory.”

Autumn is beginning to reach Georgia now. The sky is so blue. As I sat under the shadow of some pine trees today I was struck by the beautiful contrast between the deep evergreen and the azure sky and also by the gift of the senses that God gave us. As I enjoyed the feel of the breeze in the cool air, I smelled that distinctive smell of sap from the trees and enjoyed the intricate variety of God’s creation.

The ability to form pictures from words is a gift given to some, but enjoyed by many.

Stop and Smell the Roses

This could be a philosophy of life, but today I just want to talk more about the particular smell of a particular place. On my bike today I stopped to look at all the boats moored in the bay and noticed the smell of honeysuckle, beach roses [rosa rugosa], salt water, and seaweed on the rocks. I think even the sand of this island has its own distinctive smell. The trees themselves smell familiar. Each house has its own fragrance.

So often in life we don’t take time to notice our surroundings, let alone the smells. God gave so many sensory clues to remind us to “Be Here Now”, to live in the moment. I’m currently reading Love at Last Sight which is about building stronger relationships. In it I am confronted with my habit of only half listening as my daughter talks to me. I need to slow down, stop and focus on what she is saying, look her in the eyes. When I look at her she knows how much I value her and love her.

On my way home I saw something completely random; there was a man fishing in the field beside the elementary school. A peaceful spot, but the bay was teeming with fish just 1/2 mile away. I suppose he was practicing his casting, or perhaps trying out some new rods.

Places: Lighthouses, Small Towns, Farm Stands

“People need to know where their place is, and lighthouses acknowledge a sense of place that resonates in a real primal way.” said Jennifer Radcliff, president of the Michigan Lighthouse Fund in an interview for the New York Times. There is something about place that pulls us.

Yesterday I walked down to the bay and visited a small organic farm stand before walking back through town. How I miss that small town experience where the gal at the farm stand called my mother by name and chatted with all her customers. Last night at a fund raising dinner, my dad knew many of the donors and guests. Today watching a boat race, he could identify various boats and their owners. Mom has cousins here, dad spent his summers here growing up; everyone knows everyone else. Yet, they are open and friendly.

There is only one blinking traffic light in this whole town. Yesterday I went for a bike ride and enjoyed the warm sun even as I struggled to peddle into the wind. There is a familiar smell when I return to this town and so many memories associated with being here. The views and fresh air are invigorating. The sun sparkling on the water, the breeze rustling the trees and picking up to create white caps. I feel alive in this place.

Worldview

Del Tackett says, “Our personal worldview is the total set of truth claims that we have bought, consciously or subconsciously, which drive our emotions and what we think and so in unguarded moments – reflecting what we believe to be really real.” We all have a set of ideas about life and the world in general, but many of us hardly give it any thought. We take for granted so many things: consumerism, the sunrise, life itself.

Our worldview affects the decisions we make and how we choose to live. Our worldview can be passed on to our children, and I feel we should be intentional about this, thinking through our beliefs and helping our children to understand our point of view.

Focus

Some great poetry is found in the Psalms. Psalm 1 talks about those who read the Bible … and love the words so much that they think about them all the time. They are described “like trees growing beside a steam, trees that produce fruit in season and always have leaves.” [Contemporary English Version v.2-3]

What is your focus in life; what do you think about day and night? God, our Creator, has a purpose for us and desires to be in relationship with us. Francis Chan says, “God wants His Word to be a delight to us, so much so that we meditate on it day and night.” Some of my favorite Psalms are: 1, 8, 23, and 100. Don’t have a Bible? You can read online at www.biblegateway.com or go to any bookstore and look for a modern translation such as the New International Version or a paraphrase such as the CEV. That image is so inviting; don’t you want to be that tree refreshed by the stream producing fruit and flowers and providing cool shade?

Art

“Every artist dips his brush in his own soul, and paints his own nature into his pictures.” – Henry Ward Beecher

Your art, be it watercolor, poetry, music, or photography, reflects who you are. The creative impulse is deep within us. Our creativity is a gift from God, a reflection of His Creative nature. When we create something of beauty, we feel a sense of satisfaction because we are following the instinct to create beauty. The act of creating something allows us time to reflect, to use our hands and our brains, and to produce something which can be enjoyed.

Nature

In The Outermost House, Henry Beston says, “Nature is a part of our humanity, and without some awareness and experience of that divine mystery man ceases to be man. When the Pleiades and the wind in the grass are no longer a part of the human spirit, a very part of flesh and bone, man becomes, as it were, a kind of cosmic outlaw, having neither the completeness and integrity of the animal nor the birthright of true humanity.”

He talks about the “meditative perception of the relation of ‘Nature’ to the human spirit.” This classic book is about his experience living on the shore of Cape Cod for a year and observing the natural world.

Romans 1:20 says, “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made.” Through time spent outdoors in nature, savoring the creation, my spirit is refreshed by communion with God’s Spirit.

Spiritual Health

Just read an interesting article on Soul Care from Christian Leadership Alliance. The article talked about the many ways you can feed your soul. With so many options for spiritual nutrition, it’s easy to burn out on the spiritual disciplines by overloading your plate with too many spiritual activities. The author, Stephen Macchia, suggested that you major on the majors by focusing on Scripture, prayer, and reflection. I was particularly struck by this, “the recipe for vitality included three basic ingredients: time and space set apart to receive the gift of God’s Word, the joy of prayerful communion with the Trinity, and the gratitude of the heart that emerges from personal reflection on life.”

Places

Do you have a special place; somewhere that feeds your soul? Where do you feel most at home? What kind of atmosphere resonates with who you are? Is it mountains or beaches, cities or small towns, rivers or meadows? What feels like home? When are you most relaxed?

For me it’s a small seaside town that I have visited every year of my life. There is some indefinable quality about this place that feels like home. Architectural styles, beaches, bumpy roads, boats in the harbor, all speak to me of rest and relaxation. I come to visit and leave feeling refreshed, but long for the day when I don’t have to leave.

Time

This morning as I got ready for the day, I noticed the cat in the middle of the floor. I stopped for a moment, despite my busy-ness, and sat on the bedroom carpet. The cat, Sox, climbed in my lap and relished my attention, purring. We had been away a few days and the kitty just wanted to spend time with me. It struck me that this is how our time with God should be. We just want to be with Him. To relax in His presence and enjoy Him. To be still.