By Jeannette Doran
I have always loved the wild of nature. As a small child I would run off to an empty space surrounded with lush foliage to my secret hiding place and would occupy myself for long stretches returning with a heart filled with joy and peace.
This sacred space amidst the greening filled me with a serenity I’ve never forgotten.
My last year of college I listened with awe as my roommate described the in creditable beauty of the Chiapas jungle where she had spent the previous summer. My desire to go there grew over the coming year and I overcame many obstacles to track over hills created by jungle growth the coming summer. I went seeking God’s presence in the vast cathedral-like splendor of the tropical jungle.
I was not disappointed in my time spent there; it truly prepared me for my life choices.
The wilderness in the wild centers one guiding us to make wise decisions.
"We need to find God, and he cannot be found in noise and restlessness. God is the friend of silence. See how nature - trees, flowers, grass - grows in silence; see the stars, the moon and the sun, how they move in silence... We need silence to be able to touch souls." ~ Mother Teresa
ReplyDeleteInteresting - it sounds beautiful - but if you can't go to such a place like this - I suggest getting out of bed at 3am, and soaking in the silence.
ReplyDeleteI used to go to the mountains of Tennessee with a pen and journal in hand trying to capture God's voice - It was so beautiful to observe the unending landscapes- but today I live near the asphalt jungle - and so, 3am works for me. :)
Yes, everything beautiful does grow in silence and I truly believe and have experienced God's presence in my life in times of deeper silence and solitude .Continually I am being encouraged to prioritize my life and time. And truly seeking God is the priority of my life as a contemplative. There are certain disciplines I can incorporate into my life to find more time for God alone.
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