Ministry Musing

By Donna Kelly

Earlier this summer I attended a day long spiritual retreat that happened to fall on the second anniversary of my grandson’s death by suicide. I wasn’t sure what to expect, and how I was going to feel. The site was just off Randall Road in St. Charles, but the setting is woods, gardens and paths. It is a beautiful oasis with many tall old trees. It was hot that day, but the shade from the trees made it comfortable.

We spent the morning in contemplative prayer and worship. After lunch we took part in an activity called “Forest Bathing”, immersing ourselves in nature.  Our first activity was to wander in the wooded area and find a place to stop and pay attention to all that was moving around us. I saw leaves fluttering, a butterfly flitting, some small bugs scurrying, the clouds blowing across the sky, the shadows of the trees moving across the grass; very peaceful indeed.

Our second activity was to dig a hole and smell the dirt. Then to go around and find the holes others dug and smell the dirt in those holes as well. I was surprised that the dirt smelled fresh and clean! And the dirt smelled differently in other places. Where there was mulch the dirt smelled woodier and in other places it smelled more earthy.

Our last activity was to go out into the woods again and let a tree find us. I thought that sounded strange, but I went anyway. To my surprise a little way down the path was a younger tree that had to twist and turn as it grew, searching for sunlight. All around the bottom of the tree were new shoots about 3 or 4 feet tall. They looked like arms welcoming me. So, I went to that tree and laid my face on it. It felt as if the tree was hugging me with those young branches. I felt calm, safe and peaceful. It was as if God were hugging and comforting me through that tree.

This made me think of how God is always around us, walking with us, ready to hold us close to comfort or just share love. Sometimes we need to stop, take a breath and look for the ways God is holding us close to comfort or to strengthen or just to say, “I love you”. Take time to pause in your pain, or sadness or just busyness to see and feel God’s love all around you.

Donna

email Donna at: donna@sotpmail.com