by June Friesen
Have you ever felt as if there are dark clouds that have descended and not only surrounded you but closed you in on all sides? As I was walking one evening about an hour before a storm hit our area, I observed the above cloud formations. I was intrigued by the varying coloring in the clouds themselves but what captured my attention even more was the patch/patches of blue sky that was visible. As I pondered this during my walk I thought to myself – ‘that is just like God to give us a window of hope even in the darkest times in our lives’. Oh, it is not always easy to see those windows of hope and sometimes we need the help of another friend or person we meet along the way to remind us of these precious gifts. It is comforting to me that over the many years of my life, seeing and being in many kinds of various storms, God has brought me through safely. These storms vary from physical, spiritual, emotional as well as mental. They can be storms that are mine to deal with or they at times are storms that I face and help others navigate through. Jesus saw and faced storms in His earthly life as well. There are three in particular that come to my mind: the temptations in the desert, the physical storm on the sea of Galilee and the spiritual battle in the garden of Gethsemane. I believe that these have been recorded for you and I to read to remind us that God really does understand our situation more than we ever realize and/or imagine. I have not included these stories here but you can look them up to refresh your memory. I have instead chosen some verses from Galations where Paul talks about living a life that exhibits godly actions or an ungodly life that is filled with all kinds of problems and issues.
Galations 516-18 My counsel is this: Live freely, animated and motivated by God’s Spirit. Then you won’t feed the compulsions of selfishness. For there is a root of sinful self-interest in us that is at odds with a free spirit, just as the free spirit is incompatible with selfishness. These two ways of life are contrary to each other, so that you cannot live at times one way and at times another way according to how you feel on any given day. Why don’t you choose to be led by the Spirit and so escape the erratic compulsions of a law-dominated existence?
So why would I link these verses to hope – or call this writing ‘Windows of Hope?’ The two photos below show two different kinds of windows that do not give clear vision of the other side. This reminds me of how it is in life many times particularly when one does not recognize God’s presence. The first window I feel shows one’s life when God is not really recognized at all – maybe He was recognized at one time but then life started happening and soon the things of the world/earthly life caused one to completely lose focus of God. That may have started in any number of ways yet as it was not maybe recognized for distraction and distancing from God that is exactly what happened. Soon one seemed in the dark so to speak – abandoned and alone. In the second photo it appears that the window itself is clean however there is a descent of stuff into one’s life – in the photo a deluge of rain. Now the deluge of rain can hold so many lessons for us – the challenge is will you and I be open to the lesson(s)/changes that may be on the way.
A WINDOW OF HOPE
God – ‘how is it that the window through which I looked yesterday
Was so clear?
It seemed as if You were so visible in the world around me
As well as in my life within me.
I felt as if my life was a clear path ahead
But now it seems as if there is a mist
And my sight of You –
My feeling of Your Presence is somewhat clouded.
For sure I do not want my window to become
Full of dust, cobwebs and smudges from tears –
Nor do I want to ignore Your gentle knocking –
No, it is time for me to take those few moments
To clear the cloudiness
And embrace Your presence clearly and fully today.
“Yes my child,
It is indeed very important to keep the window
Into my presence clear –
As it is then that you and I can see each other
And embrace each other every moment of the day.
And my child remember this –
The window is always clear on my side –
And actually I can see through the smudges and the dirt on your side –
It is you that has your vision blocked on your side.
So you may ask Me –
How you can keep a clear vision of me?
How can you keep your side of the window clear?
The Scriptures I have given you –
Give you directions on how to clean your side of the window –
Admit and confess your wrong doing to me
And receive my forgiveness –
Then I will forgive you
And you will see that the window is sparkling and clear
And we can once again be in harmony.
And let me also remind you my child –
Take some time frequently to look upwards to the heavens –
Oh there may be no clouds at all and it is as if you can see into the depths of heaven –
Then there will be times when there are clouds –
Sometimes white and puffy clouds providing some protection from the brilliant light –
That is a reminder that there are times when I am gently protecting you even when you are not aware of it –
Sometimes the clouds have shadows and dark places –
Yes, reminding you that you too will have shadows and dark moments in your life –
But remember to embrace the light that does show through –
And then there are the times when the clouds are dark and heavy
As if they are about to encompass the whole earth with doom –
And even a storm of wind, rain, hail, snow or ice may descend –
Yes, that is what it is like when those trials and struggles come –
And even though it seems there is no end in sight –
I am there – I will bring you through to the light –
Trust me – my child
THE SON – MY SON – WILL SHINE ETERNAL LIFE UPON YOU IN THE END!
Amen and amen.
photos by June Friesen
Join Christine Sine on October 14 or watch the recording later. October and November, the season between Canadian Thanksgiving and American Thanksgiving, is gratitude season on Godspacelight. Christine Sine will encourage you to enter into the practice of gratitude in this interactive retreat that will help us enter this season of gratitude with joy and delight in our hearts.
It’s been quite a weekend. A beautiful splash of warm sunny days before the onset of more wintery weather encouraged me to get outside and enjoy God’s beautiful creation. On Sunday I had the opportunity to preach at our church, giving a sneak preview of my content for the Seasons of Gratitude retreat next Saturday. We also did an animal blessing using Elaine Breckenridge’s wonderful blessing. If you have not used it yet, consider doing so this week. Our pets and service animals bring so much to our lives that this needs to be acknowledged and celebrated.
After that we headed north to Warm Beach, not far from Camano Island. We started with a delightful visit with good friend Graham Kerr, and heard the delightful story of how in the early days his wife Trina thought that he was very boring presenter. With the help of some rather ribald British friends she encouraged him to lighten up and add some humour. It was this that really began his career as the Galloping Gourmet. From there we drove to a Circlewood event and heard the latest updates on the Circlewood Village project on Camano Island as well as what is happening on their blog The Ecological Disciple and their podcast Earthkeepers. I am so impressed with how they have taken the vision Tom and I had for the land and are both developing and expanding it. If you have not yet checked out what they are doing, I suggest you visit the Circlewood website.
Unfortunately this has all been against the backdrop of the war between Israel and Palestine and the earthquake in Afghanistan. May God have mercy on all who have lost loved ones and property and bring quick resolution to the conflict.
Last week we launched our Season of Gratitude theme on Godspace. Some of you may feel however that I immediately diverged from that theme in my Meditation Monday: Blessed, Grateful or Just Privileged? “So today I sit and look at the many blessings of my life and think “What of these things really come from a hidden sense of entitlement?” Am I “blessed” because God loves me, or am I blessed because as a white woman, the comforts I enjoy have been taken from the First people of this land and also from the First Australians?” One of the things I am grateful for this year is my growing knowledge of the atrocities that were done to indigenous people in many parts of the world and the implications it has for my lifestyle. For me gratitude often begins in hard places like this. As Dorothy Butler Bass says,
“Gratitude is not only the emotional response to random experiences, but even in the darkest times of life, gratitude waits to be seen, recognized and acted upon more thoughtfully and with a sense of purpose. Gratitude is a feeling, but it is also more than that. And it is much more than a spiritual technique to achieve peace of mind or prosperity. Gratitude is a habit of awareness that reshapes our self-understanding and the moral choices we make in the world.” (Grateful 60) Gratitude waits to be seen and to reshape our understanding of ourselves and of our world. Such an important concept for us to think about. I hope that you will join us on Saturday at our Seasons of Gratitude retreat when we will explore this in more depth.
Lilly Lewin looked at gratitude a little differently, and inspired us with her Freerange Friday: Cup of Gratitude. Inspired by her suggestion I decided to use a different cup for my morning tea for the next couple of months, a very special cup – a Shelley fine bone china cup I rarely use. Perhaps, after you read her post you too would like to choose a special cup or mug for your morning tea or coffee.
It was a delight on Thursday to read Hilary Horn’s post Rediscovering the Joy of Thanksgiving In Western Cultures As a Follower of Jesus. Hilary used to live in our upstairs apartment with her husband and 2 children. She is now a certified coach and debriefer and has also produced some impressive resources which are available through her Etsy store.
In Rodney Marsh’s post Walking and Birds he comments : “Animals in general, and birds in particular, are often, I believe, ‘messengers of hope’. Over the years, I have had many bereaved people tell me of an unexpected angelic avian visitor (angel = messenger) bringing them comfort, hope and peace following the death of a loved one.” I agree. I too have found them to be both messengers and ministers of hope.
May the gifts of God fill your life with joy this week.
And bring you gratitude and true blessing.
May you hear the voice of almighty God as it resounds through the heavens.
May you seek to proclaim our Creator’s ways throughout the earth.
God’s Word has never been silent.
God’s ways are rooted in justice and peace.
God’s path is lined with compassion and love.
May you journey through life this week
By the light of the Eternal One’s face,
And live always as followers of Christ.
Christine Sine
Join Christine Sine on October 14 or watch the recording later. October and November, the season between Canadian Thanksgiving and American Thanksgiving, is gratitude season on Godspacelight. Christine Sine will encourage you to enter into the practice of gratitude in this interactive retreat that will help us enter this season of gratitude with joy and delight in our hearts.
by Christine Sine
Today I am struggling and have been for the last week. The beginning of October is always a time of great enjoyment for me as I recount the many blessings of my life I have to be thankful for. However, after reading Drew Jackson’s poem The Faces of Blessing in his beautiful collection of poems Touch the Earth: Poems on the Way, I have been wondering if what I call blessing is really just privilege and a sense of entitlement.
I guess blessing means entitlement.
I have been told my birthright is a curse.
Drew is a black poet who has known the suffering of discrimination, racism and injustice, and his poems have much to teach us about the inequality of our world.
So today I sit and look at the many blessings of my life and think “What of these things really come from a hidden sense of entitlement?” Am I “blessed” because God loves me, or am I blessed because as a white woman, the comforts I enjoy have been taken from the First people of this land and also from the First Australians?”
Today we celebrate Indigenous Peoples’ Day in the U.S., a renaming of what was Columbus Day. The growing recognition that the “blessings ” and privileges of much of what I enjoy are because of the attempted extermination of indigenous people and the enslavement of and continuing discrimination against black people is hard to grapple with. We live in a beautiful home, but home ownership is much harder for black people who can’t get loans and are often charged higher interest rates.
Today I use the word “gift” rather than “blessing, because gift implies that I am the recipient of something someone else has given up, and often these gifts are not voluntary. In Australia, the situation is just as bad. The beautiful home I grew up in is on land from which the First Australians were forcibly ejected, killed by disease and to make way for the white settlers. Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders were given few rights. They only became citizens in 1948 and gained the right to vote in 1962. They still struggle with many forms of injustice.
Australia is “unusual among settler nations to have never made a treaty with its Indigenous peoples”, says colonial historian Prof Amanda Nettelbeck. It has never recognised Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as its first inhabitants in the constitution. They weren’t fully counted in the population until 1971 and there are no dedicated seats for them in government. On October 14th a very important referendum will be held in the country. If successful, the proposal – known as the Voice – will recognize Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the constitution, while creating a body for them to advise governments on the issues affecting their communities. I would appreciate your prayers for this extremely important referendum.
Even destruction of God’s good creation is often viewed through the lens of “blessing” and entitlement. Development often strips the land of its native flora and fauna to provide space for our beautiful homes. Here in the Pacific NW many invasive species like the Himalayan blackberry have taken over from less resilient native species, and though I love the blessing of blackberry and apple crumble, I know that it comes at a high cost to the local species. Re-establishing local flora and fauna and recognizing what a gift our native species are has been highlighted more in the last few years. Many gardeners and farmers are reintroducing native wildflowers and grasses that attract insects and other wildlife that we need to pollinate crops. Hopefully we will move towards a more sustainable balance.
Fortunately Drew Jackson still believes in blessing. In another of his poems “Leftovers” he says
“Never show up to the cookout
or slide through the fish fry without some Tupperware in hand.
You won’t want to miss
the blessing of these leftovers for days on end.
The best hosts always provide take home containers.
Take as much as you want, child. There’s plenty to go around.”
I particularly love that last line “Take as much as you want, child. There’s plenty to go around.” In God’s economy there is enough for all our needs and for all of us to flourish and enjoy the richness of God’s intended blessings. Leftovers don’t just come in Tupperware containers. they come in the overflowing abundance of God in so many aspects of life, abundance that is meant to be shared generously and with great thanksgiving with all around us, so that together we can all flourish in God’s world.
I hope that you too will grapple with the question “What is blessing, what is gift, and what is privilege and what are the implications for our lives?”
Join Christine Sine on October 14 or watch the recording later. October and November, the season between Canadian Thanksgiving and American Thanksgiving, is gratitude season on Godspacelight. Christine Sine will encourage you to enter into the practice of gratitude in this interactive retreat that will help us enter this season of gratitude with joy and delight in our hearts.
by The Rev. Elaine H. Breckenridge
Glorious God, we give you greeting!
Let Sister Earth and Brother Sun praise you.
Let the fields and forests praise you.
Let the birds and beasts praise you.
Let everything that has breath praise you,
Mother and Father of all that has Being.
– A Holy Island Prayer Book by Ray Simpson
Leader Ask. Ask the animals,
People and they will teach you;
Leader: ask the birds of the air,
People: and they will tell you;
Leader: ask the plants of the earth,
People: and they will show you;
Leader: ask the fish of the sea
People: and they will declare to you.
Leader: Who among all these does not know
People: that the hand of God has done this?
Leader: In God’s hand is the life of every living thing
People: and the breath of every human being.
– A Holy Island Prayer Book by Ray Simpson
A Reading from the Book of Genesis
God said, “Let the waters bring forth swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the dome of the sky.” So, God created the great sea monsters and every living creature that moves, of every kind, with which the waters swarm and every winged bird of every kind. And God saw that it was good. God blessed them, saying, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth.” And there was evening and there was morning, the fifth day. And God said, “Let the earth bring forth living creatures of every kind: cattle and creeping things and wild animals of the earth of every kind.” And it was so. God made the wild animals of the earth of every kind and the cattle of every kind and everything that creeps upon the ground of every kind. And God saw that it was good. (Genesis 1:20-24)
Reader: Hear what the Spirit is saying to God’s People.
People: Thanks be to God.
A Reading from the Christian Tradition
If I were alone in a desert and feeling afraid, I would want an animal to be with me. For then my fear would disappear and I would be made strong. This is what life in itself can do because it is so noble, so full of pleasure and so powerful. Therefore, let those who bring about wonderful things take an animal to help them. The life within the animal will give them strength in turn. For equality gives strength, in all things and at all times.
-Meister Eckhart, “Benediction for the Animals,” in Earth Prayers from Around the World by Elizabeth Roberts and Elias Amidon
Reader: Hear what the Spirit is saying to God’s People.
People: Thanks be to God.
Individual blessings may be offered over each animal and they may be touched if appropriate using these words:
“Peace be with you, my friend.”
When all the animals have been blessed, the people may turn to one another and say:
“Peace be with you, my friend.”
Final Prayer of Blessing
Blessed are you Lord God, maker of all living creatures. You called forth fish in the seas, birds in the air and animals on the land. You inspired St. Francis to call all of them his brothers and sisters. We give you thanks for all of these animals and those who care for them. By the power of your love, enable them and all of us to live in peace. Amen.
Glory to you, O God for all of your creation. May we sing your praises and give you thanks forever. Amen.
I’ve been drinking from a mug I got on my recent trip to Scotland. It is reminding me of all the beauty and beautiful things Jesus did on our pilgrimage. It helps me to start my day in joy and gratitude. I invite you to join me in praying with your cup today and drinking from the CUP OF GRATITUDE.
Grab a favorite mug or cup to pray with today. Fill it with your favorite tea, coffee etc.
OPENING PRAYER
Uncrowd my heart, O God,
Until silence speaks
In your still, small voice;
Turn me from the hearing of words, and the making of words,
And the confusion of much speaking,
To listening
To waiting
To stillness and
To Silence. In the name of Jesus AMEN
( based on a Prayer by Thomas Merton)
Consider your cup…the colors, the shape, the size.
What do you like about it? Why did you choose it?
Drink from your cup. Consider all the gifts in your life today. The good things that bring you joy. Make a list.
You could even draw the outline of a cup and write down the GOOD THINGS that are filling it up today. ALL THE THINGS that your are grateful for….You can do this with people of all ages around your table at breakfast or dinner time.
HOLD YOUR CUP…What are the good things in your cup? NAME THEM
What are the things that made you smile yesterday (if you are doing this in the morning) Today if you are doing this in the evening? My friend’s dog Gus, The sunflowers in my blue vase, the rain after so many days of drought
What are the acts of kindness you’ve experienced? things done for you, or things you’ve done my friend bought me lunch, a friend took time to really listen to me, I took in the trash bins for a neighbor. Be thankful for the kindness and compassion in your world.
What things do you appreciate about your life ? My husband, our neighborhood, the gift of creativity. Thank Jesus for these things.
What else are you grateful for today? the rainy, cooler weather, my home, blueberries and strawberries for breakfast, good coffee!
What things are you carrying around in your cup today that you’d like to pour out?
What things do you need Jesus to hold instead of you? tell him and allow Jesus to have these heavy things!
What are you thirsty for today? Do you need more rest, more peace, more joy? Talk to Jesus about this.
What things are helping you experience more of God’s Love?
HOLD YOUR CUP and let Jesus pour his love into your cup and into you. DRINK IN HIS LOVE and be thankful for all the good things of your world today.
CLOSING CUP PRAYER:
Lord Jesus, help me to live today with an open heart, an open cup!
Open my heart to receive your love and help my cup to overflow.
Help me to pour your love out to others today…help me share your love with those I know and with those who don’t look, think, act, or live like I do.
Help me to see you in the eyes and faces of those I meet today.
Help me to see others as you see them.
Help me to be generous
Help me to be joyful
Help me to be thankful for all the blessings that you have given me….for all good gifts.
Even the things I take for granted like a warm bed, breakfast, a hot shower or a cold one on a hot day.
Protect each of us from ourselves…our fatigue, our frustration, our hunger for our own way, our bad attitudes and lack of faith…forgive us Jesus and fix our cups..
Fill our cups today Lord Jesus and let them overflow with your love and faithfulness!
Fill our cups today and help us to practice gratefulness in all that we do.
Fill our cups today with the ability to stop and rest and remember that rest is a gift.
Help us to remember that when we serve the “least of these”…the poor, the sick, the old, the hungry, the children, those on the margins,
WE ARE SERVING YOU!
In Your Name, AMEN!
Continue to drink in gratitude today! As a practice, you might choose a NEW CUP or a favorite one to be your CUP OF GRATITUDE for this season between now and ADVENT to remind you to drink in gratefulness and thanksgiving each day! Remember that you are greatly loved and you are not alone! Grateful for you! Lilly
©lillylewin and freerangeworship.com
by Hilary Horn
In our fast-paced, consumer-driven world, Western cultures have inadvertently developed what can be termed as a “gratitude gap.” This gap represents the growing disconnect between our desires for more and our ability to appreciate what we already have. As we rush through life, constantly pursuing the next big thing, we often overlook the simple yet profound practice of gratitude. From a Christian perspective, this gap can be seen as a spiritual challenge, one that calls us to rediscover the joy and renewal of Thanksgiving in the light of our faith. Below are 5 things that I find most to be a detriment in discovering gratitude and joy in our Western mindsets.
The Consumer Culture Dilemma: From a Christian standpoint, the relentless pursuit of material wealth and personal gain can be at odds with the teachings of Christ. The Bible often warns against the love of money and the pursuit of worldly possessions. This constant craving for more can lead us away from gratitude for the blessings already bestowed upon us and distance us from the true source of joy.
The Digital Age Distraction: In the digital age, social media’s constant stream of images and stories can foster envy and discontentment, challenging our Christian values of contentment and thankfulness. It’s essential for Christians to remember that true fulfillment comes from a relationship with God, not from comparing our lives to others’ highlight reels on social media.
The Neglect of Christian Mindfulness: Christian mindfulness, rooted in the practice of prayer, meditation, and reflection, offers a way to reconnect with gratitude. By neglecting these practices, we miss opportunities to thank God for His grace, love, and the blessings Jesus gives us daily. Rediscovering Christian mindfulness can help bridge the gratitude gap and strengthen our faith.
A Hurried and Overbusy Culture: Rediscovering and dedicating time for prayer and reflection, expressing gratitude for the spiritual blessings in your life is essential. Often, we do not take space or time for this. Many of us feel overwhelmed, too busy or do not prioritize the right things we should be spending our time on. Trying to engage in acts of kindness and service, sharing your faith and gratitude with others, spreading the message of Christ’s love are all wonderful ways to rediscover the joy of Thanksgiving. Renewing our appreciation for God’s grace and fostering a more spiritually fulfilling existence is a way to embrace gratefulness.
Crippled with Mental Health Issues: Isolation and mental health issues have never been more rampant in the United States and in Western cultures. 3/5 people in the 2023 mental health crisis data said they were lonely. I have many people come who experience anxiety, depression and more! Many of these are valid in their stories or mental health journeys. However, a practice that can help is gratitude! Gratitude is powerful and can even help you overcome things like depression, anxiety, social isolation, negative emotions and more!
Western cultures may suffer from a gratitude gap, but from a Christian perspective, it becomes a spiritual challenge and an opportunity for growth. By recognizing the influences of consumer culture, the distractions of the digital age, and the neglect of Christian mindfulness, we can take deliberate steps to reintegrate gratitude and faith into our lives. Thanksgiving, through a Christian lens, is not just about a holiday; it’s a way of living that brings joy and renewal to our faith journey. Through conscious effort, we can bridge the gap and find true fulfillment in our relationship with God and in being grateful for His abundant blessings.
I put together a Gratitude Reflection book to help people do just that! You may want to check it out as part of your holiday experience or as a practice in your spiritual journey. This workbook helps navigate you to process what is gratitude, how it can help, and gives you exercises to implement more gratitude in your life. This is a great addition to upcoming Thanksgiving holiday or to try something new in your spiritual journey. May we choose gratitude and thankfulness this season with an open heart!
Join Christine Sine on October 14 or watch the recording later. October and November, the season between Canadian Thanksgiving and American Thanksgiving, is gratitude season on Godspacelight. Christine Sine will encourage you to enter into the practice of gratitude in this interactive retreat that will help us enter this season of gratitude with joy and delight in our hearts.
by Rodney Marsh
Animals in general, and birds in particular, are often, I believe, ‘messengers of hope’. Over the years, I have had many bereaved people tell me of an unexpected angelic avian visitor (angel = messenger) bringing them comfort, hope and peace following the death of a loved one. In such a way three birds, were a significant feature of my recent Bibbulmun walk. They were, I think, divine messengers to my walking companion and I. Birds accompany and encourage us on our journey through life. So, they too represent God’s presence with us. From conception to dissolution we are never alone, and God is with us and within us (and all things) and so we can and should “apprehend God in all things, for God is in all things” (Eckhart). Here’s my take on three birds who visited us on our Bibbulmun walk.
On the first day we began our walk, our expectations were of an easy 14km stroll to the first hut. We soon, however, struck difficulties – we strayed off the path, found our way again, encountered a 
difficult detour and then one unexpected very steep hill. We were walking to the next hut, so we had no alternative but to keep walking, despite these setbacks. Not only that, we didn’t know it at the time, but day two would be much more difficult with many more and steeper hills. Walking has so many parallels with life! There is always the need to keep on keeping on in the face of adversity and turmoil – a long obedience in the same direction (Eugene Peterson). St Paul calls this faithfulness, ‘fortitude’ which is translated by J B Phillips in 1Thess 1:3 as the “sheer dogged endurance in the life that you live” (1Thess 1:3). After our first night in a trekking hut we definitely needed a fortitude top-up. We received just what we needed. The very next morning our hut was visited by a splendid fairy wren, proudly displaying his regal blue plumage in preparation for the spring mating season. He brought an immediate injection of joie de vivre. The message of this messenger: “Glimpse my joy. Share my joy” and since “Joy is the infallible sign of the presence of God” (Pierre Teilhard De Chardin) then God was surely present.
On day two, as on many other days, we saw Mari twigs and chewed honkey nuts (a local term for redgum or Marri nuts) on the path, so we knew there were red-tailed black cockatoos in the forest. We heard their calls, and later caught sight of a group of about a dozen or so of these magnificent birds. We could hear the calls of their 
nestlings, but could not sight any nests. Seeing and hearing these birds was a great encouragement to me, because these birds, along with white tailed cockatoos and other parrots, were my childhood companions on the family farm. Almost all these parrots are endangered. But they persist. The redtails reminded me that despite humanity’s best (or worst!) efforts “… nature is never spent;… /Because the Holy Ghost over the bent/ World broods with warm breast and with ah! bright wings.” (Gerard Manly Hopkins), and the redtails certainly have ‘bright wings’! All creation – every ‘thing’ – is a manifestation of the universal energy we sometimes call the ‘Ground of Being’. This mystery is in us and all things. We are all invited to come into contact with, and to discover with ever-increasing depth of experience, “the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Col 1:27). My walking companion said of day two, “I myself think of the hills and the grind of getting one foot to move after the other and the relief of getting to the top of repetitive hills.” I, too, needed encouragement to move my feet and the redtail cockeys of day two were that day’s avian angels.
The steep hilly terrain of day two was exhausting. The sun had already descended, but not entirely removed its guiding light, by the time we arrived at the next hut. We were very, very glad to have 
arrived. When I shared with my companion about my connection to the redtailed cockeys, he mentioned a bird which was a frequent companion to him and his brothers in their childhood beside the beautiful Porongurups – the scarlet robin. I mentioned that the ‘robin-red-breast’ was also a bird from my childhood nearer the coast. I thought, but didn’t say, “We won’t see one on this walk in the forest”. I was wrong!
As we were taking our first steps out on the last day of our walk a robin red breast flitted across our path – then he was gone. What a gift. Near the beginning and close to the end of our walk, two tiny birds graced us with their presence and in so doing brought us a great gift – a heart knowing that on this journey, as throughout our lives, we are companioned by a high, deep, wide and vast Presence within us and around us always on every step of the way. This presence is important because birds, stones, trees, clouds just are who they are. They find being real easy. Humans don’t. It seems difficult (or impossible) for us to just be. This was Mary Oliver’s experience when, presumably, trying to write, “What’s that you’re doing? whispers the wind” to her. Her response, “Give me a little time, I say back to its staring, silver face./It doesn’t happen all of a sudden, you know”./’Doesn’t it?’ says the wind, and breaks open, releasing distillation of blue iris.” Then her heart that “panics not to be, as I long to be, /the empty, waiting, pure, speechless receptacle.” (Distillation of Blue Iris). A wren, a cockatoo and a robin can only convey their angelic message to an empty, waiting, pure, speechless heart (like Mary Oliver’s surely was). It is my meditation practice the helps me to open my heart to see God in all things.
A question to think about: Meister Eckhart writes “But if I could not have a child with me, I would like to have at least a living animal at my side to comfort me. Therefore, let those who bring about wonderful things in their big, dark books take an animal – perhaps a dog – to help them. The life within the animal will give them strength in turn.” Can humans be fully human without animals and birds or the natural world?
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