Nature and grace

The summer of 2016 has been absolutely awesome, in so many ways. Our back garden is part of a green belt, an urban national park-one of very few that are in North America, with our very own river running through, filled with wildlife. Numerous species of wildflowers grace the river bank in glorious, blazing colours- purple, shocking pink and yellow mostly. Most of the  salmon have already travelled upstream a week ago-to a special pond about a mile upstream to spawn. Our special residents, the one`s -that were here last year, have not arrived yet-they should be here in the next week or so-to spawn in our area of the river. 

Each dawn is just magical-with air filled with music of nature. I love to watch the sunrise with a cup of coffee in my hand, the scent of  the dew covered grass permeating the morning air. So transformational for spirit. I would not exchange this moment for anything at this point in my life. I feel I am complete.

We live in the old historical village of Ajax-well old in Canadian standards, it was established in 1861. There are no new houses in the village-the odd one had to match the old architecture- so it is in line with the old originals. It all has such a deep feeling of soulfulness-I adore its age, its history, the old gas lights on the main street. Our house is a “heritage house”-there are a few dozen of them, including a few on the main street that were different businesses –the general store, millers house and a few others- including a still functioning old pharmacy.

We have an old cemetery four houses down- where the original dozen families are buried- less than a hundred or so . The old church has been moved out of the village,-the churchyard remains with the stone grave markers  laid flat and the faint memories of the souls who once walked this area.

Each day my first thought is to be grateful and acknowledge of how very lucky I am to bear testament to such beauty of nature-and often wonder in whose steps I am walking in? - who lived here before? –whose eyes beheld this glittering river? -food for thought. What a gift it is to be allowed to be witness to this magnificence of creation; this grace that we have been given. To be part of it-seeing it, experiencing it closely surrounded by family. What a dazzling summer we have had; what glorious time-as  each day reflects moments of a life of blessedness.

I have decided this year to slow down and do things that lift my heart up-I made a vision board that I frequently visit, that keeps me focused on the ball; on things important, things meaningful, on things spiritual. I try to go into town as little as possible-being in the quite lane of the country life, I find the city very aggravating to my spirit.

My space is special-filled with memories, mementos and silence. Most nights are filled with candlelight and infusion of incense -the fragrance of sandalwood pervades. Some nights- the words and music of Cohen breaks the stillness-with the magic of the sound of the Greek bouzouki faintly in the background. Other nights it is Mozart or Schubert or Pachabel maybe. It`s all in the game of the night.

For a brief time I felt that I was adrift somewhere in the ocean of stress and worry-I consciously let it all go.  I am less attached to stuff these days- more open to my higher self, as opposed to my ego- I am happy, filled with joy.  I love to spend time with myself-in solitude, in reflection, in stillness.  One needs to discover oneself-for understanding oneself is most important for growth of spirit.

Peace of heart-guides us through the different perils of life, and by putting all trust into the hands of  God-in my case mostly Our Lady makes life much lighter. She is always there as the harbour for my soul. One may find Her in the solitude of nature, in the silence of the evening and in the gentle flow of the river-or in silent prayer. When I see and experience all this-I am home and I am allowed to witness the miracle all around. This stirs something magnanimous in the human soul, a sense of kinship with all life-we share in the spirit of all things, if we allow ourselves to partake in all the resonance of life.

Isn`t life strange?- a while back you were living in the mountains-in the beautiful wilderness of Colorado-I was living in the city, now you live in the city and I live in the heart of nature.You had the elk, now we have the deer.....funny this life.

I have posted this small piece below before-but it so reflects my feelings.

"THE PEACE OF WILD THINGS"
by Wendell Berry

When despair grows in me
and I wake in the middle of the night at the least sound
in fear of what my life and my children's lives may be,
I go and lie down where the wood drake
rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds.
I come into the peace of wild things
who do not tax their lives with forethought
of grief. I come into the presence of still water.
And I feel above me the day-blind stars
waiting for their light. For a time
I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.