We Will Not Pass This Way Again

 This morning, out walking my dog early before the heat sets in, I'm thankful for the stirring breeze and the few moments of peace at the beginning of the day. I breathe a silent prayer and the lyrics to an old song by Seals and Crofts pop into my mind: "We May Never Pass This Way Again"

Life
So they say
Is but a game and they'd let it slip away
Love
Like the autumn sun
Should be dyin'
But it's only just begun

Like the twilight in the road up ahead
They don't see just where we're goin'
And all the secrets in the universe
Whisper in our ears
All the years will come and go
Take us up
Always up

We may never pass this way again
We may never pass this way again
We may never pass this way again

Dreams
So they say
Are for the fools and they let 'em drift away
Peace
Like the silent dove
Should be flyin'
But it's only just begun...

I thought about how each moment is precious, fresh and new; how each moment will never happen again, so I need to open my eyes, pay attention and not "let it drift away".  It's all too easy to let the minutes, days and years pass by, not really being fully focused on the here and now, not fully appreciating all that we have.

Even when the going is rough (and we all go through challenges and tough times), there is still so much beauty all around us, so much to be thankful for. We can always choose to focus on the shiny side of the coin, rather than the dark side.

My prayer for today is that I, and whoever is reading this, will take a few moments to drink it all in, to keep our eyes open to beauty and wonder and to not miss a thing, because we will never pass this way again.

 

  

Walking in the Woods

 Sometimes, "when the world is too much with me", to quote William Wordsworth, I know that I have to go for a long walk in the woods to restore my soul.  I have found peace in the woods since I was a small child and walked silently "on moccasin feet" through the forest with my father, feeling the deep, tranquil energy of the trees and listening intently for the sounds of nature all around.  

 The phrase "Forest Bathing" has made its way into our culture, but actually started in Japan as a means to cultivate peace and healing in an increasingly stressful and technologically focused world:

"The Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries came up with the idea of shinrin yoku in the early eighties. Shinrin yoku stands for a forest bath, or enjoying the forest atmosphere in order to relax. Due to the relentless Japanese working culture, the stress levels of Japanese employees was running rampant already then and the forestry department saw a wonderful possibility that would reduce the stress levels of people and increase demand for forest cover needed by the forestry department. And so shinrin yoku / forest bathing was born.The Japanese, who were under the stress of competitive metropolitan life, were lured into the healing atmosphere of the forests to engage in different relaxing activities (Huusko, 2019)."

In particular, conifers are beneficial for reasons that go beyond simple aesthetics:

"Certain trees, like conifers also emit oils and compounds to safeguard themselves from microbes and pathogens. These molecules known as Phytoncides are good for our immunity too. Breathing in the forest air boosts the level of natural killer (NK) cells in our blood. NK cells are used in our body to fight infections, cancers and tumors. So spending time with these trees is a special form of tree bathing"

(https://healingforest.org/2020/01/27/forest-bathing-guide/)

So walking in the woods is simply good for us, body, mind and soul. Trees awaken our senses, restore our spirits, boost our immune systems and provide our planet with life giving oxygen.  

Thank you God, for trees and the restorative power of "forest bathing"!

Praise For the Morning

 Sitting outside on my deck this morning, feeling August settling in...cool nights, warm sunny days; the beautiful sounds of woodland creatures singing praises to the day; feeling thankful for all the beauty there is still. 

Regardless of the news headlines that remind me we live in an angry and violent world, there is the soothing balm of nature to restore my spirit.

The other night, around 11:00, I settled in on the patio, bathed in the white light of the Supermoon, listening to the lovely songs of crickets and cicadas, gazing up at the stars and hoping to see the meteor shower.  I felt such peace and was thankful just to be alive in that moment, witness to so much beauty at once.

Now, this morning, as I listen to the "woo woo" of a mourning dove, joining into the chorus of bird and cricket song, and as the garden breathes around me, my heart swells and the words of a Cat Stevens song fill my mind:

 

Morning has broken like the first morning
Blackbird has spoken like the first bird
Praise for the singing, praise for the morning
Praise for them springing fresh from the world

Sweet the rains new fall, sunlit from Heaven
Like the first dewfall on the first grass
Praise for the sweetness of the wet garden
Sprung in completeness where His feet pass

Mine is the sunlight, mine is the morning
Born of the one light, Eden saw play
Praise with elation, praise every morning
God's recreation of the new day

Morning has broken like the first morning
Blackbird has spoken like the first bird
Praise for the singing, praise for the morning
Praise for them springing fresh from the world

So, as I enter into this very busy day, I will try to bring the blessing of morning peace with me, to act as a buffer against the challenges of this world. I am strengthened by the healing balm that God gives us through his beautiful creation.

*Morning Has Broken", by Cat Stevens 

"Supermoon" photo by Tom Curtin

Celebrating Loved Ones Lost

Summer is a time for family celebrations...graduations, weddings, picnics and vacations. So often during these celebrations, I find myself thinking of the loved ones who've passed on- my parents, Tom's parents, dear aunts and uncles.  It's hard not to think of them and mourn their absence, even as I rejoice in the happy moments of life. 

We recently celebrated our daughter's marriage to a wonderful man and this past weekend, attended the wedding of a dear friend's daughter.
Before the most recent ceremony began, the officiant asked for a moment of silence for loved ones who've passed on and who are rejoicing with us in spirit. I thought that was a beautiful sentiment and it brought a tear to my eyes as I thought of all the loved ones we have lost.

In particular this week, I think of my father, since the four year anniversary of his death was this past Saturday and his birthday is tomorrow, August 9. He chose to die on just such a day of celebration. We had a family picnic at our house and many of his grandchildren and great-grandchildren were able to sing "Happy 96th Birthday" to him as he smiled and clapped in the candle light of his birthday cake. He died peacefully in his sleep that night, having received a beautiful send-off to that other realm.

                                       .

 When we think of loved ones lost, I believe it's important to be thankful for those enduring gifts that they've left behind. I don't mean the monetary or material gifts, but rather the gifts of their spirit; those aspects of themselves that live on in our hearts, that make us better people, that remind us, in difficult moments, who we are and what strength we possess within.

So this morning, I would ask whoever is reading this, to take a moment to pause, give thanks for loved ones who have passed on, who we have never really lost, but whose beautiful spirits have left enduring gifts in our hearts.