Clear, Crisp, Sunshiny Days – I Still Need You

A winter’s day at Chicago Botanic Gardens

Tonight I am the facilitator in our small group in the absence of our leader.  In preparation I choose a group of photos as journaling prompts, knowing already which one I will choose. Each of us will choose our own photo and I already know which one I will choose.  Now here I am in the quiet with my friends as we journal, using photos as a picture of our spiritual lives and desires as they are right now. 

I have always loved this photo – a beautiful sunshiny day at the Botanic Gardens. The slow drift of wet snow throughout the day yesterday into the evening reminds me of a visit to the Gardens after another snowstorm a number of years ago.

Clean crisp air
sunshine
no fog today
down coat
warm scarf
soft fuzzy gloves
I am set to enjoy this cold day.

Sort of like my life right now
Clear
sunshine
no fog
in this good-to-feel-alive
place.”

But like this beautiful day,
to experience this moment
to the fullest extent
I must pay attention
to what I need
in this good season
of my life
Just as I was prepared for the cold
the day I took this photo.

Yet, good as things are right now,
something is “off.”
I’m “wired . . .”
always moving
my feet,
my hands,
my mouth
my mind racing
unfocused

As we each consider
the question for ourselves
I feel your presence,
my body – relaxed
my mind – stilled
And I know

I must cultivate the quiet
even in good times.

To not create the time
when I am feeling good
is like not stretching
because my back doesn’t hurt today!

God, you gently remind me
as good as these days feel right now
I still need time to
quiet myself
listen to you
feelthe down-coat, warm-scarf, fuzzy-glove
warmth of your loving presence.

5 Replies to “Clear, Crisp, Sunshiny Days – I Still Need You”

  1. Carol,
    The mystery of spiritual rhythms made up of deliberate patterns are simply all over your pondering….Oh, thevstheOh, the sanity of attentiveness, realigning, recording, peering into the sunny days and the days of shadow to discover the treasures which always, but not withus, but not without some struggle, to remain. I love you, girl.

    1. My dear friend Shirley, it’s fun to see you here. You know you are the one who taught me this. I think of you everytime I pay attention. I just can’t help it anymore. by the way, it was you I was filling in for 🙂

      and I smiled at your follow up post. I have done the same myself!

  2. Oh, Carol, the nuggets abound in this:
    “I must cultivate the quiet even in good times. To not create the time when I am feeling good is like not stretching because my back doesn’t hurt today!”
    and
    “down-coat-warm-scarf-fuzzy-glove warmth of your loving presence.”
    well done 🙂

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