Strawberries are surely the epitome of the summer season…but the strawberries in my garden have come and gone this summer, and as long bright summer days begin their surrender to duller, darker evenings and Autumn jostles into position, whispering it’s way into our lives, I wanted to reflect on how easy it is to miss the savouring of each passing season. As all seasons, summer is fleeting, and we can rush through the delights it brings without really taking time to savour the potential joys it holds.
Longing
How many of us long for a holiday? We dream of time to get away, unwind, lay down the daily burdens of living and to be free from the rules of our work day, rush day, overwork day routines…
I wonder what holiday means to you? Perhaps, the chance to get away; long days in the sun; relax at home or maybe the dread of fractious family times full of arguments; anticipation under-delivered, disappointment, regret, sadness or envy at not being able to afford an “ideal” destination?
From Struggle to Surrender
I’m not good at surrendering. Instead, when I come across a situation which I don’t like or can’t handle well, I tend to do my utmost to procrastinate, resist or avoid it completely.
Just to clarify, before I go further…I’m not talking here about a situation that would put us in danger in any way… That is a different scenario completely and one in which we need to do whatever we need to do to keep ourselves safe…
No, I’m talking about the day to day moments that I so often resist, rather than trust my God that I am here at this point to learn to embrace; to lean into rather than avoid the place where I have been planted.
This month, I’ve been looking at what nature teaches us about surrender…
Learning from nature….
Appreciating Water…
Last month I visited Morocco. It was unseasonably hot, with temperatures reaching 40 degrees and above, rather than the anticipated 24- 30 degrees of the spring. The one thing I missed most in this dry land and searing heat was water, to freely drink from the tap.
Water is such a basic human need and yet here in the west, in its abundance and availability, we so often take it for granted, wasting & squandering it through excessive or unnecessary use, not recognising its importance and centrality in our lives.
Read more: Water for the Soul: Ten Ways to Refresh our Spirits
Stilling the Soul…
We in the Western world often live such frantic lives, surrounded by the constant noise of media and society. Ours is a 24/7 daylight world, where inactivity is seemingly frowned upon and busyness is a sickness of both body and soul.
My life is often just too frenetic. I can be tempted by infinite choice and the desire to cram in as much as I can, seduced into believing that I am able to do everything, precariously juggling my over-activity with the acrobatics of daily living, work and relationships. So it is that this month, in my year of learning how to surrender, I have been struck by my need to surrender to stillness, looking to this old hymn for inspiration.
“Be still, my soul: the Lord is on thy side.~
Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain.
Leave to thy God to order and provide;
In every change, He faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul: thy best, thy heav’nly Friend
Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.”