Finding Hope Outdoors

So ....I couldn't stop blogging :)

Today was a day to be outdoors on the trails and not inside the church. I love to experience the practices of many faiths and find they all have good and similar guidelines for living a life of compassion. As much as the church music uplifts my spirit and energizes me I must say in these past few years I have found that hiking in the forests has the same effect. I can’t help but look at all of nature and feel connected to God. Thirteen years ago I began a practice of meditation that brought great peace to my life and connection with Jesus. The stillness brought healing, a sense of wholeness and the practice enriched my life. I have to confess that I rarely do meditate anymore but the stillness and quietness of the forests has nearly the same effect.

Taking a few days off from work after the busy Christmas season I decided to get outside and enjoy the winter air. Today’s hike brought me to a new summit. Although the hike was short there was such breathtaking beauty to look out upon that one couldn't help but be thankful for the Creator and creation. The skies were full of clouds, the wind was crisp and cool and the ocean and small islands looked at peace. I am not sure which of nature I find more amazing...the vast stretches of ocean water or the tiny flowers on the moss along the trail, the rain dripping off a branch, or the fog laying low. Whichever it may be nature shows us that life is full of hope and promise, even on days like today when I struggle with nervous fear of what may come next in life, finding God in nature gives me hope and reminds me that all shall be well.

Looking down at such beauty how can one not be hopeful

I have been struggling lately with the idea of dreams and hopes. Having dreams or not having them...which is better? When I dream about something I have a tendency to get carried away and have it all planned out perfectly in my mind. When that doesn't come to reality I feel hurt and grieve over the loss of something that I never really had. Life can be going along so perfectly and then as my wise friend says “life can just turn on a dime” and that is so correct. One day life is full of hope and promise and the next the dreams are dashed away in an instant. Maybe a person’s dreams should only involve themselves and not include others. It would be safer to live without any dreams at all although I am not sure it is healthier.

The formation of the clouds was breathtaking

Tomorrow is a new day and hopefully it will involve a new hike in the same area but on a different trail. Where it will take me I have no idea but keeping my body busy, keeps my mind off the troubles of life and gives me time to connect with creation. When I look out across the ocean at the islands in the distant it will remind me to be thankful for all of life and that really, mostly the things I worry about are all small things, almost as tiny as the little flowers on the moss along the side of the trail.

Amazing how beautiful something so tiny can be...it is humbling

Christmas Eve

It has been a month of waiting, that is was Advent is all about, being patient and waiting. In my life it has been a very busy month but this past week I have finally found time to be reflective on my life and all that I have been blessed with. Today I spent time thinking about waiting and what I am waiting for or expecting from tomorrow. Am I waiting for Santa to arrive, am I waiting to spend time with my family, am I waiting to celebrate the birth of Jesus. As I thought about this I realized how much my life has evolved and changed over the years. I also thought about Mary waiting for her baby to arrive and how I am waiting for my first grandchild to arrive. Even though it is months away I feel excitement in the waiting for a baby boy to be born, just as Mary would have many years ago.

This afternoon, in need of some quiet reflective time, I hiked to the cross. As I hiked I thought about this past year, the losses but mainly the celebrations and my dreams and hopes for next year. As I reached the cross I stood looking out over the water. I tried to focus on the birth of my grandson and all the joy he will bring but my heart was full of grief and loss. I thought about the hopes and dreams I had had for this coming new year and knowing that they were not going to become a reality I couldn’t help but feel the sadness and hopelessness. The fear that I feel that this coming year could bring pain to the people I love even amongst the joyous occasions makes me not want to have new hopes or set goals for this year ahead. Is the disappointment worth the dreaming.

This evening I attended the Christmas Eve service at church where I listened to the story of Jesus’ birth, sang carols and prayed. I have to admit I left in much higher spirits and with a sense of hope. If one small baby boy, born in a stable could bring so much love and hope to our world then how can I not have that same love and hope for us all.

So tomorrow is Christmas, a day celebrated by people all over the world. Some folks will focus on Santa’s arrival, some will rejoice in the birth of Jesus, in our own ways we will celebrate being together with our family or friends and be thankful for all that we have.

Life is a journey and it isn’t the destination but the journey that matters, including all the bumps we run into along the way. In the end it is how we journey with love and hope for a better world in our hearts that really matters.

I wish you all a very Merry Christmas tomorrow and a Happy New year. May 2014 be a good year for us all. I also want to thank D & J and Cathy for being such faithful readers of my blog these past three years. Even though I never really wrote about the things I thought I would, this has been a great place for me to share some of my thoughts and feelings and I thank you for always taking time to read and post. Today while hiking down from the cross I decided that this would be my last posting, #60, on this blog site... so when the year ends so will this. It’s been a fun but it’s time for a change.

Blessings to you all.

Linda