Your sense of Proportion

"Keep your sense of proportion by regularly, preferably daily, visiting the natural world." Catlin Matthews

Visiting the natural world on daily walks outside is medicinal. When I get the chance, I love taking lunch time to enjoy the outdoors. In Minden, it was a long stretch of back roads by some cow pastures and a few horse ranches. Smelly on occasions but fantastic for views of the mountains through Carson Valley.

Now, I hear the rushing sound and sights of the Truckee River but sometimes it isn't enough. I keep thinking I need to bring my fishing pole or swim shorts to hang out in the water on some days. But I walk and watch as fly fisherman are out trying their hand once again to catch those watery creatures below. Birds chirp in trees all around. People and their dogs seem to enjoy this little trail too or picnic along the way and as the weather gets hotter, people gather. But no matter what time of the day I try and get out for lunch.

In the Spring, Summer and Fall when the weather gets nice and it's hiking time, there's another opportunity to basque in the beauty of the outdoors. Camping and hiking are a nice reprieve from the daily grind. And while outside, exploring the incredible things God has created all around, I'm kept humble. I see things in proportion. My little problems, my little complaints are absolutely nothing in the overshadowing revelation that God created all things and holds all things in His hand. He will work out whatever is my momentary challenge. "When one tugs at a single thing in nature, he finds it attached to the rest of the world." John Muir I also come back with fresh eyes to see humanity. In all our quirks and roughness, we are tied together. What I do affects others. How I live counts. And yet the whole world isn't centered on me. I am not the center of this universe. My sense of proportion is strengthened and invigorated to live this thing we call LIFE.

The Nearness of You

This morning I woke early and just wanted to be "near Him". I guess I just wanted to feel His embrace of truth. I was tired of my thoughts and distractions and wanted them to be washed away by HIM. Funny how a Nora Jones song means a lot in a moment like this. "It's not the pale moon that excites me That thrills and delights me, oh no It's just the nearness of you It isn't your sweet conversation That brings this sensation, oh no It's just the nearness of you When you're in my arms and I feel you so close to me All my wildest dreams came true I need no soft lights to enchant me If you'll only grant me the right To hold you ever so tight And to feel in the night the nearness of you" One day I will see this God clearly and as plain as day. One day all the questions will be answered too. In the meantime, it's His nearness that I KNOW exists. I can see it all around in His creation but when I feel Him near, that's awesome!!

Happy girls

True beauty is not skin deep but goes so much deeper. You could have the perfect body, be fit as a fiddle, but if your heart is dark, it will show. You might have the perfect skin, but how are you with others? What motivates and drives you in life? When you get to the heart of someone, that's when beauty or ugliness is seen most clearly. I have a friend who raises her kids to have a happy heart. If they start showing attitude, she sends them to their room until they can get a happy heart. I think there's something there because ultimately we are responsible for our own heart - how we tend to what grows there, how we garden it, etc. And kindness, compassion, grace never go out of style. I think this is a good question to ask oneself periodically. What's in your heart?

I don't think that means you have to be a soft, delicate, fragile little flower that seems breakable and unbelievable. But bitterness, anger, a constant state of sadness is like the color purple. You're bruised and it's showing. This may not be your fault what has happened to you or where you find yourself but what you do have control over is what you do in those moments. Whatever is weighing you down isn't worth the weight. Let go of it and move on. Even if all in your life is going crappy, but you have a happy heart, or you have to go to your room and get a happy heart, it will show through. What's troubling you can't be worth the weight it bears down on you. Not to mention it's just not pretty. Don't you like to be around pretty things? Things that delight your soul to look at? Your heart can be that way too....doesn't have to be so dark and ugly.

Isn't it funny too how once you find yourself all in a twitter over something so menial, you just want to kick yourself later because hindsight is truly 20/20. It's so easy to see how dumb something was once you've done it. It takes less effort just to smile, to lighten your load and let go of the things concerning you. This is where trust in God also comes in. Find joy in life in spite of whatever your circumstances might be. In my humble opinion, this is a sign of understanding true beauty. It's a lifelong endeavor but so worth the glow.