“Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul.” John Muir

“Father of the National Parks”

I ran across this quote and photo in one of my files and I just had to write about it. A few minutes before that discovery I had finished eating one of my favorite breakfasts: whole grain toast with a slice of cheddar cheese and half an avocado. I remembered that John Muir hiked through the Sierra Mountains and elsewhere carrying only a loaf of bread and a tin cup for drinking water as needed. Not sure about the cheese and avocado. 🙂

I’ve spent many weeks in some of the same places where he hiked and played and slept and prayed and they have been some of the best days of my life. Nature healed me too, and gave strength to my body and soul. I realized today that I don’t have to return to the Sierra for ‘beauty and bread.’ I can enjoy both in my own neighborhood, surrounded by mountains and trees and flowers and fruit farms, and I can do so everyday. How blessed I am.

How about you? How does nature heal and strengthen you?

Give us this day our daily bread. (Matthew 6:11)

The other day I pulled a book off the shelf that I hadn’t read in a long time. Inner Simplicity by Elaine St. James. I’m pretty good at ‘outer’ simplicity, keeping things orderly and organized, but I can use a refresher when it comes to simplifying my inner life. Here are a few headlines from Elaine’s writing that caught my attention and how I am applying them to my life.

See the problems in your life as gifts.This is one of my favorites. I’m beginning to see the challenges as opportunities to grow instead of shrink.

Connect with the sun. It seems the more time I sit or walk in the sun the better I feel so     starting this week, I’m going to dedicate at least fifteen minutes a day to the sun.

Let yourself cry. I hardly ever cry but I wish I could. I know it’s good to cry. Crying releases chemicals that help reduce pain and may promote well-being.

Learn to forgive. Forgiving ourselves first can lead to forgiving others so both will be healed.

Listen to your inner voice. It has taken years for me to see the value of my inner voice and the wisdom it has for me in every area of my life.

Do any of these resonate with you? If so, in what way? We can learn from each other. I’m off to NV later today to visit my son for five days. See you next week. Thanks for hanging with me. I love each of you.

A few days ago I received a flyer in the mail flattering me with the following headline:

PREFERRED CUSTOMER SAVINGS OFFER

It’s always nice to save a few bucks so I read the remainder of the offer but then decided it wasn’t right for me. Saving money on something I didn’t want, need, or care about wasn’t a savings after all. So I tossed the flyer and went on with my day.

Later that week I came across the following Bible verse in one of my readings:

“See how very much our Father loves us, for He calls us His children, and that is what we are!”(1 John 3:1)

God calls me his child, his friend, his beloved.

So much better than being called a Preferred Customer.

For the rest of the day I smiled every time I thought of what God thinks of me and I don’t have to do anything to be considered special in his eyes.

I recently attended a beautiful memorial service for my daughter’s father-in-law, Jay, who died earlier this month. We were the same age–84. Jay and his wife Linda were known for their dancing, among other things. I remember a time about ten years ago when they invited my husband Charles and me to a couples dinner-dance at their church. Memories of this special event flooded my mind while we celebrated Jay’s life in the same room where the dance had been held

Jay also wanted everyone he met to know that God loved them and he expressed it without hesitation. “God loves you and so do I,” he often said to friend and stranger alike. During the sharing time at the luncheon, person after person stood up to acknowledge Jay as a man of love and joy.

Later that day, as we stood by the grave I reflected on what it means to be thought of as such a man–one of love and joy.  Jesus has set the example:

“As the Father has loved Me, so have I loved you. Remain in My love. If you keep my commandments, you will remain in My love just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and remain in His love. I have told you these things so that My joy may be in you and your joy may be complete.” (John 15:10)

Jay, I am enjoying the fruit of your love for all of us who hold you in our memory. Thank you for blessing me with your friendship and example.

In the last few months I’ve had the pleasure of meeting two couples who moved into the vacant homes on the block where I live. Both are pleasant, friendly, and a great addition to our community. I have a new walking partner and someone to trade books with. We both love to read and chat. One couple has a perky little dog who seems ready to make a new friend–me. And since I don’t have a dog of my own, I’m excited to enjoy him whenever he’s out for a walk.

During this uncertain time in our world where a war and a pandemic are raging, I’m more aware than ever of how important and precious it is to share space with good people, to help one another and to be a blessing simply by our presence.

Last year the pastor of the church I attend invited us to stay in touch with our neighbors by surprising them with a little gift of love–homemade cookies or a pot of soup, fresh fruit, a book we’ve enjoyed. I shared my books, some of my favorite chocolates and in return one neighbor brought me a bowl of homemade chowder and a chunk of sourdough bread.

This week I am feeling blessed and loved and cared for in new ways. A phone call, a text message, or a visit have reminded me that love comes in many forms. I want to be ready to give and receive it because I never know when the opportunity might not be as available as it is TODAY!

“Geography has made us neighbors. History has made us friends. Economics has made us partners, and necessity has made us allies. Those whom God has so joined together, let no man put asunder. “

John F. Kennedy

“Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble.”

1 Peter 3:8