Driving to a cabin in the Shenandoah with my friend, I felt the gentle shift from city life to country beauty, surrounded by the blue hills of Virginia. There’s a point in driving when suddenly one takes a deep breath and lets out the sigh of renewal found in the splendor of the hills in front of us. Driving even deeper onto roads leading up the mountain, we rolled down our windows to hear the sounds of nature alive around us.
Settling in for an evening of wine and long talks, the air was full of the chirping of birds and the crackling of animals, moving in the brush below us. At one point, we sat in silence, just listening, waiting to hear that next unexpected sound break through the trees. We had already seen the majesty of a deer as we drove up the road, and we waited in anticipation for a bear or other creature to walk across our land. In the meantime, we were soaking in the call of nature, just as God had designed it.
As the sun began to set, the world around us began to settle in. I didn’t realize at first, but nature was silencing itself for the great sleep. As it began to grow dark, the lightning bugs flickered across in front of us. You seldom see lightning bugs in the city anymore. They twinkled in front of us in their dance of merriment. It was then that we noticed the woods were becoming silent. It was as if the Creator were soothing all the creatures and tucking them in for the evening. The birds became quiet. The rustling in the bush below us became less apparent. Even our little lightning bugs put their lights out.
And as the moon shown through the trees, we were struck with how bright it was, as the quiet descended upon us. We sat in that silence for many minutes, listening to the nothingness and all its glory.
As the sun rose the following morning, so did the chirp of the wood trush deep within the branches of our forest. Nature again speaking life into the day. The Divine calling us from our slumber into their awakening of our soul. The sacred combining of all creation the soul longs to rediscover is here in these woodlands.
Such incredible sounds culminating in the vibrancy of a world of differences- each with their own voice announcing their presence and waiting for the response of others. A harmonious reminder from nature of God’s intent for us. The rooster crowing in the distance telling us all to get moving- don’t miss this day, this hour, this moment. And gradually the ground beginning to crunch as wildlife walked across the valley in response to the melodic choir of a new day. Squirrels playfully entertained us jumping from branch to branch and chasing each other around the tree trunk.
“For you shall go out in joy and be led back in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall burst into song, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.” Isaiah 55:12 NRSVUE
Just as evening brought us the majestically gentle deer in our path, the morning brought forth the lumbering gait of a black bear crossing the yard. All creatures springing to life, even the smallest of insects tiptoeing across the chair where we sat. It is the awe and wonder of this planet we are called to care for and love. It is a reminder of all that the Divine implanted in all of creation- to be still in that presence and know that the Holy One remains with us and in us. May you know such peace where you sit today.
maggiemarcum 