In the morning I awoke, excited, my heart smiling, delighted to meet with God today, to give Him the time He so deserves from me.
Every spin of the wheel taking me further away from the city. I have directions scribbled on a small piece of torn paper. Directions to a place I’ve never been before. A hermitage on a farm in a cabin nestled peacefully in the trees.
I take a wrong turn. Not so unusual for me, but what I would have missed out on if I hadn’t. Miles of countryside. What things looked like back in the old days, just land. Wildlife. Fields revealing their beauty again after a long cold winter. Trees swaying in the wind. Natural, authentic, beautiful colors. A muskrat scurries across the road. I have to look twice, I smile with appreciation for the reminder of the diverseness of God's creation.
I get back on the right path with my crumpled map beside me. I steadily break as a deer prances across the path, I see a bald eagle swoop down from the sky to snatch something up off the ground, and alas, I come to the long gravel driveway. My destination. I turn and enter. Eyes wide open and roaming about like a tourist in a foreign land. A sign telling me I’m in the right place. More proof that spring has arrived; soggy mud under my tires from snow that is no more. I pull up to the farm house. I imagine the life stories that have taken place here.
Not sure if I can go in, I walk to another building I have just seen someone enter. It’s a room taken over by plants, creaky rocking chairs & books, a sauna, hot tub, and massage room. Mmmm. I like this. I am greeted by one of the nuns who runs the farm. Friendly. Warm handshake. Smiles. Welcoming. I am directed back to the farmhouse where I am greeted by more nuns. They are laboring hard to prepare a meal for their guests. They send me on my way to my own hermitage just down the hill. I am invited back for a meal that will take place precisely at noon. I settle. Get my bearings. Learn my surroundings and walk back.
We use the same animal napkin holder at every meal. Tradition. Mine, an elephant with a broken trunk. We sip tea. We learn about oneanother. It’s nice. Meeting new people. Hearing new stories. Seeing the journey God is taking other people on. Wisdom. We share all the different reasons why we’re here. One woman, who lost her son to leukemia is writing a children’s book. A story she once told her son to get him to see that he wasn’t sick because he did something wrong.
The rest of the day I do what I am here for. Spend time with God, sitting in a rocking chair in my cabin looking out into the woods beyond the lake. Occasionally glancing up to witness roosters or a white tailed deer walking past my window. I watch waiting to see what they will do next.
I sleep. I awake early to the cold air around me. The fire in the wood burning stove has subsided. I grab more blankets in the dark. Eventually I fall back asleep.
What a beautiful morning. How marvelous to wake up to the sounds of pure creation. Birds chirping, talking to eachother. Whistling a beautiful tune. So many different types. The sun, shining over the hills waking everyone slowly as light begins to pour through the curtains into the bedroom.
I dawn my spring jacket, a scarf, and a pair of winter gloves. I take my camera with so I can capture this moment. I step outside. Breath deeply. The quietness of the rest of the world. It’s still. No chaos. No worries. No rushing.
As I walk along the trails, the frost crunches beneath my feet. The sun just rising over the hills blinds me, but in a good way. I see neighbor farms in the distance. I see farmers getting a start to their early morning. Coffee mug in hand they walk to the barn in their work jeans and flannel ready for a days work.
The blind dog in the yard hears me and barks. And barks. I softly say “hey dog,” as I don’t know his name and he quiets. I take a walk down the hill to the barn. I peak in after opening the top barn door. Nothing too scary. I open the bottom door and step inside. A goat comes jumping out of darkness onto the fence. Startled, but funny. The hens are flying all around the room squawking & losing feathers right and left. The peacock sits quiet in the corner. I take a breath in and it reminds me of my own Grandpas farm. Comfort. I smile and step back out and lock the door.
I see gardens laid out with ropes around them, I see fruit trees, compost. Signs of a self sufficient farm. I see woods filled with trees.
I come back to my cabin, but have not yet had enough. Taking in of the blessings of the day. I start a fire in the wood burning stove and open the window to still enjoy the freshness of the air. A mix of a cool breeze and a gentle warmness on my skin from the stove. The smell of campfire, the sound of wood crackling...an occasional pop. Another blessing.
I spend my day in the word. Asking God to speak to me. I soul search, I make lists. I read an encouraging book, I pray deeply for the people I love and for people I don't know.
I take a break to experience a gift God has given Paula one of the nuns. Once a nurse herself, now blesses others by her hands, providing Trager massage. Soft piano playing in the background. She whispers prayers over each part of my body as she eases tension built up slowly from the stresses of this world. Gradually muscles are eased, the word stress now foreign to them.
After peeling myself from the massage table I now must pack my things and head back to my life. This time, however with a sense of peace. A deeper closeness with my creator. Clarity. A desire to have more of this in my life. To hear God in every moment, not just moments like these. To rid of all the things of this world that are hindering me from experiencing the wholeness of God.
I encourage you today to find out how you can experience the wholeness of God. What in your life can you get rid of or pursue more of so that you can hear from God. I encourage you not only to listen to God, but to be faithful in what he is asking you to do.
