Yesterday was the 25th running of the John Beargrease sleddog race. The weather couldn't have been more perfect. I've been making bird feeder wreaths and the Pine Grosbeaks and chickadees have been loving them. I mix orange juice and water together, then put blackoil sunflower seeds, bits of oranges, grapes, apples, or whatever old fruit I happen to have around along with some pine branches for perches into a bundt pan and put the whole thing outside to freeze. Dip the pan into a little water to release it and you have a wonderful treat for the birds. I usually make 3 at a time. The birds prefer the wreaths to be flat so they can just stand on them and "work" at getting the seeds out.
On the way to church a rabbit came screaming around the side of the garage with a Pine Marten hot on it's tail so to speak. Survival was foremost on there minds so they didn't even have a clue that we were there. Fur was flying. It was the rabbits lucky day. The rabbit kept going and the Pine Marten came to a screeching halt just about 4 feet from me. What a beautiful animal. There is never a dull moment around here.
Over the course of my life I have looked for comfort and solace. I have looked for that place to call home. I have traveled a thousand miles down dead-end roads and finally, finally, my journey has brought me here. To this place, that heals me.
I have chronic pain. I don't think that the "why" matters as much as the fact that I simply do. Anyone who suffers with chronic pain knows that it changes your life and "pain" will try to take away the beauty within and without. An instructor asked each member of our class to describe something beautiful that we had seen this past week. A man sitting next to me, who lives daily with chronic pain, couldn't think of one thing. I, on the other hand, thought of all kinds of things. I thought of the White-breasted Nuthatch and the Northern Goshawk and the Pine Marten and the flying squirrels that we see at night. I thought of the Bald Eagle I saw on the way to town yesterday and the way the snow sparkled last night when the moon was shining. Remembering these things helps me. Maybe they will help you too.
January 29, 2008
As the winds howl and the temperature drops I'm watching the Blackcapped Chickadees at the feeder and they are the epitome of perserverance. They are the first to come and the last to leave no matter what the weather. When I watch the courage of the small birds as they battle blizzards and gale force winds coming off the Great Lake I am once again reminded that I too am small.
Nature puts us in our place. There is a relationship between wilderness and sacredness. Many monastic leaders go to the desert, or to the top of a mountain or other places in nature to be at peace and reflect. Again, there is something greater than ourselves out there. To lose the love of nature should be considered a major personal loss. Nature Heals me.
Nature gives me something else to think about besides my pain. It gives me research to do and nature has provided me with some of the most glorious spectacles a human could ever hope to see.( No, it's not me sliding down the walkway backwards due to the glare ice that has formed on everything) Although that is quite a spectacle all by itself...
Until Next time...
No comments:
Post a Comment