Quiet Journeys

Last week I shrugged off the snow encased world of Anchorage for the sun and rain drenched world of northern California. I spent some time with my family and then headed over to Walnut Creek to meet with other ministers from around the country and discuss the business of moving along Unity as a movement.

There was an optional bus trip on Wednesday to visit other ministries in the area. I thought it might be interesting, but I decided that taking some time alone was a better use of my day. We had spent the day before in impassioned discussions over who we are and what we’re doing. I also knew that I need time by myself to balance, integrate, and reflect.

So I headed into the mountains. I brought my water bottle, camera, journal and pen, a granola bar, and my turned off phone (for emergencies). I would love to say I had a totally mindful meditation for those hours I trekked, but that would be poppycock. I just gave space for there to be more space in my heart and mind. With nature and which trail to take as the only input, I allowed the chatter of my mind a space to settle a bit.

Sometimes when I found my thoughts really going wild, I sang a chant or new thought song to refocus. I tried side trails that looked interesting, and eventually, I found this:

Ah ha! a great place to meditate for a while. As I sat there gazing at the waterfall and surrounding area, I kept noticing more details, more bits of swirling water and colorful stones. If I hadn’t sat down to look how much would I have seen? How often do we look without seeing?

In just a handful of hours I slowed down to look at the world around me and my own inner commentary. There is wisdom and insight there when we take the time to notice, just as there is so much more going on around the waterfall than the central stream.

What would happen if we really allowed ourselves the time and space to really listen to one another and ourselves, to really look at our world?

I meditate most every day, it is an essential part of my day and if for some reason I miss it, I feel the difference. This practice is the daily fuel that keeps me going just as we eat every day to keep our bodies going. But it’s not enough alone for me to navigate the sometimes complicated and turbulent waters that are part of life. I aim to weekly take a couple hours to turn off the influx of information and entertainment that is normal in most of our lives and engage in a meditative creative pursuit, or nature excursion.

This extended peaceful time is a space for wisdom to emerge, for insight to ignite, to affirm that I’m worth taking the time. In the busy life with due dates and injustices looming 24/7 it is all too easy to let ourselves put that self-care aside. What I have learned is what the spiritual leaders of the past and present agree on, is that self-care is essential to sticking with it for the long-haul.

So go climb the mountain, draw, build, write, and just be. See the unseen, hear the unheard. You will be rewarded with more peace, harmony, and focus. Do it for yourself, do it for the world.