My podcast exists to spread the idea of a loving spirit to readers each Tuesday morning.
Each week, I find inspiration from secular and/or sacred texts and weave a personal essay aimed at revealing a loving spirit at work in the universe. Each post concludes with a prayer and self-enrichment journal prompts.
Reflection:
“We are all connected; To each other, biologically. To the earth, chemically. To the rest of the universe atomically.” — Neil deGrasse Tyson, astrophysicist and science communicator
Scripture:
“Let the sky celebrate! Let the earth be happy! Let the sea and everything in it roar! Let the fields and everything in them rejoice!” — Psalm 96.11-12 (CEV)
At the lake’s edge, a hummingbird flaps a steady vibration, which is carried by the pine-scented breeze. Bass bed beneath docks; mallards swim in pairs. An eagle’s nest is firmly built atop the tallest tree. A loon’s call travels across the ripples of the lake. My heart is full of awe when I share this space.
I enjoy this sliver of geography for just a slice of time in the Northwoods of Wisconsin. Each visit, I pause, still and present, trying not to disturb the natural wonder.
Like Neil deGrasse Tyson conveys, I too conclude we are all connected to one another, to this earth, and beyond. This interconnectedness and unity can be found within the natural world. Outside, I feel connected to something—not only the birds and trees, but, also, something much bigger than that. Something that transcends time.
Change is as varied and as constant as the wind, yet the interconnectedness of the world remains unphased. We are all together through creation. The handiwork of a loving creator is expressed in the resilience and beauty of nature. For this, we can rejoice.
Since I cannot simply sit and stare at the world around me, I must learn to carry the lessons of nature with me. Reflecting on today’s psalm reminds me of a creator’s all-encompassing glory and presence. Spending time in devotion and reflection, even from my cluttered home office, helps bring the spirit of peaceful harmony to mind.
There is much to be celebrated when we notice the world around us and our connection to it and its fellow travelers.
Prayer: Oh Holy One, thank You for time spent in nature. When I am surrounded by clutter or chaos, help me to remember a space as peaceful as the Northwoods of Wisconsin. Through slow, full breaths, I recognize You as the source of this beauty within and around me. Allow me to hold on to my sense of wonder. Amen.
Journal prompts:
Go outside. Regardless of your surroundings, find examples of the beauty of creation. Do you see it in the sky, the landscape around you, in the eyes of animals, or the faces of people nearby? Write about a connection you feel to your observations. Do you feel connected to something bigger than what you can see?
Make a list of the five most beautiful places you have visited. Using sensory details, concretely describe the setting. You may include personal reflections on how this space has inspired or changed you.
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