Tuesday 7 September 2010

The nearest faraway place.

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Its easy to be caught up in the daily doings, what ever they may be. Consumed by our work, home and all the other stuff that just keeps happening; you know what I mean. Just give me 5-minutes, I’ll do it later, I need to get away, I can manage!

I enjoy photography but I think that is just an excuse to go for a walk, a time to be on my own and to empty my head, or to process some of my concerns. The other morning after delivering an envelope I headed into the valley gardens and soon found myself by the river side, (fairy glen). I sat with my back against an old tree closed my eyes and just listened to the water. I was fascinated by the different sounds as the river rushed on by; I widened my listening and drew in the sounds of birds, trees in the wind and squirrels rustling in the leaves. It was as if I had stepped into another world and during this stay, my energy levels were being increased, the day at work seamed to go better, I was more at ease with myself and others.

Spirituality is not just about going to church; its about discovery; we can’t always find it in the busyness of the day. Jesus often went off on his own into the wilderness; I think he means for us to do the same. Someday in the future we may have booths we can step into and have light images and sound around us creating in us a better mood?  For me, I’ll stick to my walks in the woods and on the beach listening to the wildness of the sea.

4 comments:

awareness said...

Beautiful David. You have described this place where one absorbs nature and wilderness into prayer in a way I can completely relate to. As I read your description, I felt like I was sitting right there beside you embracing the sounds, the sights and the awe of God in the beauty of the riverside.

This is the kind of place I pray most effectively....... God's hand always reaches out to touch me there.

J Pearson said...

Fr Richard Rhor wrote - To be present in the ordinary and notice the presence.

Will be using this blog entry in Novembers Spirit Matters (local free paper).

Somewhere round about said...

spirituality....that word just got a whole heap larger this year...

we would have t pay for those booths anyway, rivers are free....

J Pearson said...

I could imagine queue's too.
:)