There is something deeply rewarding to me about spending a Monsoon Rainy Saturday at home reading, it’s intentional. It’s quiet. It’s safe. It’s peaceful even in a house full of teenagers. 

My life is rather frenetic most days working both as a Youth Pastor on the Island, and a running a business in the city. So time is something I am acutely aware of, it’s precious. I  do try to spend it wisely.

Most Saturdays I admit are spent in the woods, I long for that quiet time through the week knowing it’s coming; that stillness of both earth and soul are waiting for me, and I appreciate it for the gift that it truly is.

I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived. I did not wish to live what was not life, living is so dear; nor did I wish to practise resignation, unless it was quite necessary. I wanted to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life, to live so sturdily and Spartan-like as to put to rout all that was not life, to cut a broad swath and shave close, to drive life into a corner, and reduce it to its lowest terms.

~Henry David Thoreau

When my life was slightly less frenetic and my people were small, time was scarce still but for a different reason. To challenge that, I used to rise pre dawn – before light, in the indigos… never caring the season or the temperature (I live in BC that’s not a hardship) and then within 15 minutes I’d be out the door & into the woods.

Those Saturday early morning runs became my weekly salvation.  I can recall relaxing my shoulders and preparing to open myself into a deep meditative state of awe & wonder.

The world is so delicately beautiful. 

There is this scene, its from one of my favourite movies. A young man is explaining to his younger girlfriend about this moment.

In that moment, it’s how he sees the world.

“It was one of those days when it’s a minute away from snowing and there’s this electricity in the air, you can almost hear it. And this bag was, like, dancing with me. Like a little kid begging me to play with it. For fifteen minutes. And that’s the day I realized there was this entire life behind things, and… this incredibly benevolent force, that wanted me to know there was no reason to be afraid, ever. Video’s a poor excuse, I know. But it helps me remember… and I need to remember… Sometimes there’s so much beauty in the world I feel like I can’t take it, like my heart’s going to cave in.”

I get this.

This is part of who I am to my very core. This is how I experience the world. It crushes me sometimes, yet I could not possibly live any other way.

“When you see something like that, it’s like God is looking right at you, just for a second. And if you’re careful, you can look right back.”

It’s then, that I am moved literally to tears. 

On those rare Saturday’s, that are not spent with Thoreau, I have something else.. Gratefully so. 

Magic.

There is this bit of enchantment I experience in listening to my teenagers laughing and talking upstairs, visiting with their friends. The rain beats down in a rhythmic soothing pattern that lulls and in my hands a well worn copy of, 

For the 15th time…

Cup of tea, candles, peace. 

To me: this serves it all. I sit in gratitude for this life. Today and always.

Whether I am walking silently over the moss strewn path in an attempt to be still, or simply being still in my own home, it is my inherent desire to LIVE that makes the difference.

What calms your soul? How do you nurture your need for peace, love, validation? Do you spend time in the woods? Where does your magic come from?

Peace & Love Readers,

~ Miss D

Published by LBH Collective & m!Media

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