This week I got to spend three days in silence with the Holy Cross community. They have these three days each quarter, but usually my calendar is full and I'm lucky to get one day. This time I was able to spend three blessed days reading, sitting by the river, waking slowly, praying. And I was reminded of hw much I miss by going at my normal speed.
Here's some of what I saw:
A lesser blue heron over the Hudson
A great blue heron over the Hudson
A fish jumping out of the Hudson
The patterns on rocks
Tiny purple flowers
Amazing green leaves on trees hanging on by their roots
Tiny orange and white butterflies
A bee that killed and ate another bee
Three fawns who nursed from their mother while I stood in full view
As I walked away from the fawns I thought, "I have to slow down more."
I was reminded of the Beatles' song, "Till there was you."
There were birds all around, but I never saw them winging,
No, I never saw them at all, till there was you.
There was love all around, but I never heard it singing,
No, I never heard it at all, till there was you.
(And yes, I find many pop songs translate quite well into love songs to God.)
The hunger for God leads me to places and times of quiet. There I find God's love in my heart and in all creation - even in the bee that consumes other bees. The wonder of the universe feeds me, and makes me hunger for more.
I hope today to walk slowly enough to see and feel more of this glorious creation.
I hope you find some time to wonder too.
Blessings!
