Earth's crammed with heaven.

Earth's crammed with heaven, and every common bush afire with God, But only he who sees takes off his shoes - Elizabeth Barrett Browning

This is my very favourite special place.

I go to the whispering trees, feel the wind in my face, and listen to the rustle of the leaves.

The quiet wind in the trees has an uncanny way of shushing me to silence. I am drawn to this special place. A prompting within my heart to come beckons me here. So, I come when the noise of the world becomes too powerful and loud, drowning out His voice. My thoughts run hither and thither, trying to anchor and settle my anxious heart.

Here, I listen.

In the stillness, I hear the soft beat of my heart as it settles into the rhythm around me. I watch a squirrel standing on its hind legs and surveying its surroundings. It is still and motionless. Listening and watching.

We are together, watching and listening.  

Waiting.

I hear the faint tap tapping and slowly turn my head to find the elusive tapper. The rhythm of the tap joins the orchestra of quiet. Another faint tapping joins from afar. I  see the small and elusive downy woodpeckers dressed in black and white with a red cap on their heads. I am comforted by the rhythm of the soothing tapping.

Here I come to meet I AM.

Alone in the silence.

There is a quietness that I can’t quite understand. It is like a stillness that sharpens my eyes and ears as I stand motionless with the trees, peering with my eyes and straining my ears. 

Silence slips between us
Solitude complete
The stillness clear
And close as heaven's door
The earth beats out its rhythm
In slow and perfect time
Counterpoint and harmonies
Life's melodies entwine(1) 

I think of the garden, in ancient days, where I AM walked. I imagine being in the presence of an all-encompassing love so complete. The orchestra of sound, the birds and little critters, the cool breeze, the rustle of the leaves, and the sunlight making mysterious shadows encompass me, wrapping me in arms of comfort.

And I allow my imagination to rest in ‘just being.’

As my soul quiets, I hear anew the cardinals singing and rat-a-tatting of the woodpeckers, the swooshing of the ducks as they glide into the water, the rustle in the brush as a pair of squirrels dart around playing.

I hear the subtle melody of nature around me. An orchestra of worship. The quiet breeze rustles the leaves, making dancing shadows around me.

I join as creation worships.

It is ‘the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day(2). I lean into the sound listening. Waiting….

It's not the place. It’s the presence of Him, Mystery, that draws me here and waits with me. 

In this moment of being, I know deep in my heart that nothing is needed. I feel His pleasure in the being. In the being with me. And so, like a weaned child my soul is calmed and quieted. In this moment, my eyes are not haughty; and my heart is not proud, and I do not concern myself with great matters or things too difficult for me to fathom or understand. Like the psalmist, I have come to be stilled, and I have quieted my soul like a weaned child with its mother. Like a weaned child is my soul within me (3).

My eyes fill with unshed tears, my throat constricts and aches as I realize that this is all that is asked of me.

The Creator of the universe longs for me to come to Him to enjoy His presence… to be with Him.

‘Come away with me(4), He asked of his disciples…. In His presence, the attitudes and walls I have erected against pain fall away, and there is freedom. Somehow, the questions are not so daunting.

There is safety in His presence, in His shadow, under His Wings, He is Refuge, He is Shield, before me and around me(5).

At this moment today, I have stopped and taken off the shoes of my heart, and my heart kneels before Him.

His still small voice comes to me now, “This was the very reason you were brought here…. that by knowing me here a little, you may know me better there….”

Reflection: Where do you go to quiet your soul, to sit in His presence, to empty yourself of your own thoughts and simply “be” one with Him?

References: (1) Song Wild Places by Peter Paul and Mary; (2) Genesis 3:8; (3) Psalm 131; (4) Mark 6:30-34, Mark 4:35; (5) Psalm 91:4 MSG; (6)CS Lewis, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.