It was one of those rare days when all creation seems suffused with light and beauty, and God’s presence is very near. I was driving to see my sister on a golden autumn afternoon. A clear mountain stream tumbled alongside the road as I wound my way up the pass, and the sun’s slanting rays sparkled on the water like laughter floating up from good conversation. Golden cottonwoods and poplars danced along the creek’s edge, flinging their leaves like confetti at a parade, aware of the generosity of their gift. The autumn sun created special effects for the trees as well – a golden filter of light, a halo of wonder. Further up the pass, the yellow tamaracks, unremarkable in other seasons, set the mountainside ablaze, a burning bush in which their green companions of fir and pine were not consumed but glorified. This superfluity of beauty drew me into an awareness of the abundance of God’s love and care, God’s desire to give us these golden moments of beauty and Divine Union without expectation of anything in return. In these moments, we are most fully mindful of our oneness with all of creation. Our longing for God is met by God’s longing for us, and we are filled to overflowing with love and gratitude.
Gratitude is often a difficult attitude to maintain. We get sidetracked by our everyday world, ruled by the clock and the to-do list. We rattle off a few thank you’s during our prayer time, if we have any, and call it good. But we are seldom mindful enough to be truly grateful. Gratitude requires being in the present moment. I became aware some time ago of a habit I had of going someplace beautiful for a vacation or retreat, taking scads of pictures and telling myself, “I have to come back here!” One of these times, God started breaking into my thought process and telling me, “You’re here now! Be present to it!” For by taking copious photos to look at later and prematurely planning my next trip, I was preventing myself from being fully present to the gift that was right in front of me. And so, on this golden day, I was able to receive the gift, to glory in it – no photos, no plans, just gratitude. As we approach Thanksgiving Day and our thoughts turn to the blessings of life, may God grace you with such an abundance of beauty and love that you are drawn fully into that moment and filled to overflowing with wonder and gratitude. May it be so.
Just reading your words conveyed for me that feeling of oneness with all of life, that non-separation from the natural world that is so healing. thank you, Sue.
Beautifully written! The description made me feel like I was experiencing that drive and seeing the light sparkle from those leaves!
These words speak: “In these moments, we are most fully mindful of our oneness with all of creation. Our longing for God is met by God’s longing for us, and we are filled to overflowing with love and gratitude.”
Thanks for sharing what you saw and experienced in such a gifted way!
debra
Beautiful, Sue. And so true. That business of dissociating by hiding behind a camera and thinking about the future rather than enjoying fully the very moment we’re in is oh, so real. Thanks for the gift of your beautiful words and the reminder of all the beauty and love God showers over us. The beauties of autumn sink into my soul when I am blessed enough to be in them – I’ve had a few opportunities for that this year – and for them I am truly grateful. Thanks again for your beatiful words.
Lovely and beautifully written. I could feel being there in the present. Even as I feel present walking out my door each day and glorying in the desert beauty outside that door.
Read this when need of such a reminder was greatest. Have found that nature speaks to me and gives me comfort when all else fails. A sense I am in the presence of the Lord surrounds me. Tomorrow I will go spend time with the Lord and enjoy the beauty of nature. Maybe take my sketch pad….
Thanks Sue