From Unexpected Angles

In my daily meditations I try to look at things with a fresh eye, in the hope of discovering, or rediscovering, emotions and feelings that sometimes get lost in the hustle and bustle of daily life.

Our day to day lives sometimes feel far too busy and excessively fixated on being hyper-productive and efficient. It’s easy to get caught up in the race for rewards and recognition, top marks and promotions, perfect health and economic wellbeing. And the odd thing is, even when those goals are achieved one rarely feels truly satisfied. We just keep striving for more.

This week I have tried to slow down and look at my life from different perspectives. Despite the temptation to rush, to get, to hold, to work, to attain, I’ve tried to let go of worldly imperatives and allow myself the experience of just being in life in all its fullness.

Psalm 148 reminds us that gratitude for everything in nature is a great place to start.

‘Praise the Holy One, sun and moon, praise all you shining stars! Praise the Holy One, you highest heavens, and you waters above the heavens! Praise the Holy One from the earth, you sea monsters and all deeps, fire and hail, snow and frost, stormy wind fulfilling his command! Mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars! Wild animals and all cattle, creeping things and flying birds!’

Although I could never imagine being a sea monster, a cedar tree, the sun or the moon, humans do have the gift of imagination and can wonder and speculate about life in all its depth and variety. Science and knowledge take us into the fascinating realms of the cosmos and the lives of other creatures, so we can appreciate where we come from and what a miraculous, fortuitous gift we are. We are so much more than our humdrum daily lives.

Have you enjoyed time in nature this week? How might you use your imagination to conjure a new outlook on your life? How might this exercise help you gain insight into any concerns and worries that trouble you?

Be present to yourself

Be present to the Holy One

Be present to the beauty of community and of all nature around us.

Peace

David Burrows

The Rev’d David Burrows is the Incumbent Priest of the Anglican Parish of Kokanee, encompassing Nelson, Kaslo, and the North Shore.

This writing is a part of his weekly blog ‘Mountain Reflections'.