As I’ve lived, I’ve discovered that most people, myself included, have certain places where they go to connect with nature. Many people have several different retreats where they can quietly sit and gain deep insights.
Throughout the years, in various places I’ve lived, I’ve developed several of these “nature portals. One of the best ones both Marnie and I retreat to frequently at Spirit Tree Farms is our “Intention Rock”, a large rounded rock near the edge of our property, on the banks of the West Chickamauga Creek.
From the Intention Rock you can look across the creek into the Chickamauga Battlefield. Leaning back against the rock you can also hear the water flowing over the rocks in the pre-historic Native American fishing weir. It’s not hard to imagine Civil War soldiers and, before them, Native American fishermen, hunters, and pawpaw foragers sitting on that rock, “thinking about things.”
Today, after planting some grape vines, munching on some wild Fox grapes, and watering various plants, I felt called to sit on the Intention Rock. While there, I had three haiku come to mind, one after the other. (I’ve also posted them on my creative blog at CyranoWriter.com).
I appreciated the insights these haiku gave me. The first one deals with answering the “why” in nature observation. Don’t we all sometimes feel like we’re supposed to go out in nature and just sit? Yet don’t we also often fight that urge, because it doesn’t “make sense”? What I’ve learned is that, when we get that call often we just need to go sit still and listen.
Called To The Intention Rock
Not knowing why I’m/
called to the intention rock, /
I stay still, listen.
The next one was a relief to me! I’ve had the feeling, for some time, that part of my “job”, part of what I’m supposed to be doing on the earth, is to spread the message of how much God and Jesus love us, and especially how They show that love through Nature. Yet often, I find myself questioning that assignment, as though it’s too simple, too silly, of a task. At moments of doubt like these, I appreciate hearing affirmations from Heavenly Father and His Son.
Keep Doing What You Think You Should
Affirmations flood/
my heart, mind, and soul. I’ll keep/
doing what I’m asked.
The last haiku that came to mind was in response to guilt I had about even questioning what I should be doing. Rather than telling me, chastising me, as others might, “You keep asking the same question, as though you’re seeking a different answer,” I felt like Heavenly Father was telling me “It’s okay to keep asking the same questions, because you’re doing it to gain insight and wisdom.”
It’s OK to Question
I’m not faithless when/
I worry, doubt, or question./
I seek more insight.
Each of those haiku gave me answers to questions I didn’t even know I had! Yet, isn’t that the way it is much of the time? We are drawn into Nature, into the woods, meadows, mountains, beaches, where ever our portals and connecting places are, so we can connect with the Divine, so we can hear, learn, understand, and grow. And when we do those things, we can also be filled with more resolve to do what we are supposed to, in the ways we are supposed to do them, for the benefit of all.
