I am writing this newsletter on my sister, Rachel’s birthday. She would be 47 today. I oscillate between tears and happy memories. The Portland grey skies are a welcome mood for this day. Later, I will buy a giant Starbucks (her favorite) and light a candle for her at The Grotto (another favorite). She is with God and that brings me comfort.
I remember the day of her sudden passing. The first thing I did was go outside. Walls felt too confining for my grief and I needed a place that could hold it. I walked down to the end of our street where I was surrounded by trees and wept in the fresh air. The branches held a sacred space of strength and tenderness for me as I let the tears flow. I found more comfort here than I ever did in hugs and flowers.
It’s a wonder why we ever try to force our grief indoors when we have oceans and birds to comfort us in our suffering. God’s creation has always been an extension of love and Presence. Nothing in nature is void of the divine attributes of their Creator nor is creation blind to suffering. God knew this but we were not convinced, so God came to show us that all are connected, spun by the hands of Love who became flesh.
Creator and creation together.
Let all creation weep.
Welcome to week two of Wild & Wondrous Advent. Below you will find a few simple elements to engage in throughout the week. Near the end of the week or once you’ve done your Wondrous Walk, I encourage you to come back here and join in the discussion in the comment section. This series was created to offer you prompts to engage in your spiritual journey more contemplatively through connection to God’s wild and wondrous creation.
A reading to ponder
“A Rabbit Noticed by Condition” by Saint John of the Cross
I was sad one day and went for a walk;
I sat in a field.
A rabbit noticed my condition and
came near.
It often does not take more than that to help at times -
To just be close to creatures who
Are so full of knowing,
So full of love,
That they don’t
-chat,
they just gaze with
their
marvelous understanding.
A scripture to contemplate
Matthew 5:1-4
Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them.
He said:
“Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.”
What word or phrase stands out to you in this passage? Spend some time in Lectio Divina* prayer this week contemplating this passage and the surrounding passages from Matthew 5:1-10
*Lectio Divina means sacred reading in Latin. It is an ancient and contemplative way of reading and praying scripture. The link above is a printable PDF that walks you through the Lectio steps.
A wild and wondrous walk to connect
Plan at least one wild and wondrous walk this next week, lasting around 30 minutes. Choose a spot that you are drawn to, a place to speak to your heart, or if you are short on time, a simple walk in your neighborhood will do. Begin your walk with a minute of deep breaking, inhaling for 6 seconds and exhaling for 6 seconds. Then begin your walk.
Question to ponder: How do you feel God’s comfort in creation?
A creation care activity to engage
Creating a comfortable environment starts with a clean environment. This week take an hour and clean up an area in your neighborhood. Make sure to have the proper gear such as gloves and trash bags to pick up litter. Keeping our environment clean of waste and chemicals ensures the safety and flourishing of all of God’s creatures, including us.
An opportunity to share in the comment section to process
After you have done your Wild & Wondrous Walk this week, come back here and share what your experience was!
Where did you walk? What was the weather like? Where did you see God’s comfort in creation? Was it difficult/easy to stay present in the moment?
thank you for this. the idea of the comfort of nature feels to me so profound, and also so intuitively known i never thought to talk about it that way. It feels right and beautiful to name it and sense gratitude for it.