Day 32 - Issue 26
Matthew 6:28-29 NLT
'Why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are.'
There is much to be learned from learning to look properly. It suggests a measure of consideration, so invites the imagination to become engaged with the eyes. From spring onwards, I rise early as normal and make my way, with a mug of steaming green tea, to sit in the Oratory gazebo. Here I observe the sunrise and the many different birds queuing in the apple tree to take their turn on the feeders. It is a place of stillness, offering much soul food.
There is a charm in the simple things of life which can so easily be missed. It is perhaps my age that assists my ability to see such charms, for my days of rushing in pursuit of ego massage are long gone. Yet, the charms have always been there; I was the one who missed them for so long. One thing is certain, no matter what yesterday revealed or what tomorrow might unveil, in these early morning moments I can enjoy the beauty of nature and am at peace with myself and my surroundings.
Beauty slowly feeds my whole being. I initially take pleasure from the sights before my eyes, yet slowly, as my imagination becomes involved, I cannot prevent my emotions stirring, and my spirit is lifted into a place of contentment and, often, joy. I am reminded that “This is the day the Lord has made” (Psalm 118:24). The one decision I have to make is: “Will I be glad and rejoice in it?”
There is a beauty in simple pleasures. It sometimes feels unnatural, even wrong, simply to sit and to stare. Yet, attentiveness has long lain at the heart of Christian contemplation. Creating deliberate pauses in my daily cycle I believe is essential for me to establish strength and resilience. It shifts my thinking away from the practical demands of work, family and home and allows me solely to consider the presence of God.
QUESTION: How might you create natural pauses in your daily life rhythm?
PRAYER: Lord, open my eyes to see the good and the beauty in all that you have made.
