And what of
that dark hallow space in the center of your being…can you fill that with food?
Several months ago the movie
preview for “Joyful Noise” caught my attention.
The previewed music sounded great and I was intrigued at the thought of
Dolly Parton and Queen Latifah in a movie together. It appeared that it
might be funny as well as have great music.
So I invited Peggy and Emilee and we went together that next weekend.
The movie had scarcely begun when
the music started pulling me in. After about thirty minutes I suddenly was
aware that I had not moved nor taken my eyes off the screen since it had begun.
As I sat in a dead stare I realized I was smiling so big that my jaw was
beginning to hurt. I felt enveloped, as though some magical power in this movie
had captured me.
As I became aware of the nonsensical
grin on my face, I was a little embarrassed. I was embarrassed that I had
become so entranced so I quickly looked around to see if anyone had noticed how
bewitched I had become.
I was aware that the music was warming, comforting
and lifting my spirits, but could not understand why I felt so…so, well for
lack of a better word, elated, almost drunk in love. I felt the music literally
filling me up with the most exciting and wonderful warmth. I was overwhelmed
and realized I had not felt like this in a very long time. I was literally tingling from my head to my
toes. It felt like the sun was shining inside me and I was aglow. “Holy Cow, is
everyone feeling this”? I quickly looked around the theatre fully expecting
everyone to be entranced in a smiling stupor with me. However, I could see that
everyone, though seeming pleased, was NOT jumping up and down for joy, and
clapping wildly for more, more, more!
I was so excited about the movie I wanted to
return and did, several times. I took my daughter Donna; I took my son Bobby
and then returned again by myself. Although the movie was enjoyable for my
family no one seemed to experience what I did. And though I enjoyed it the second,
third and fourth time, I myself never again experienced the same euphoria as I
had the first time.
I have thought about this
experience several times since it happened and the only answer I have for it,
other than it is an enjoyable movie… is that I was so thirsty for what this
music had to offer that evening that my spirit could not drink it in fast
enough.
I was like a dry sponge that had
finally been given what it hungered and existed for, moisture…nourishment…light
and joy. However these are mere adjectives and they don’t do justice to how
enlightened I felt. But they are all I have to describe what happened to me.
All I know is, when the music began, it felt as though it poured into my being.
The music came in through my ears and it vibrated through every cell of my body,
filling and nourishing my dry and parched soul.
I have since realized that music
is one way I can nourish my spirit. Not only is it one way but an extremely
important way for me. I can tell when it has been too long and look and long
for ways to bring more music into my life. What a beautiful and wonderful gift
music is. I wish I had a way to have it in my life everyday like I experienced
that evening while watching Joyful Noise. If you have not seen the movie I
encourage you to rent it and indulge. Although I cannot promise you that you
will experience what I did the first time I saw it, I think if you like music,
you will enjoy it.
Fill Your World with Color and Beauty
Fill your life and your world with the
colors, textures, scents, sounds and objects that are beautiful to you, that
have meaning to you. Remember that we are connected to our environment. The
objects and the colors in our world have energy and meaning. They have an
impact on us.
Objects have energy. They have energy already in them when we
obtain them and they have energy and meaning we attribute to them. Choose
carefully the possessions you want around you…
Choose objects and colors that make your
heart smile.
Journey to the Heart, Melody Beattie
Spiritual
nourishment for me…is many things.
Of course it is reading the scriptures and attending
church. But in my life I have found that not only is there many other ways to
nourish…but that they are vital to living a healthy and joyful life.
I am sure that the
gifts that God has placed here on earth for us to partake of, create with, and use
for good, have to do with the fulfilling of our own divine missions in life.
You will be drawn to these things and will know them
immediately. They are the good things in life that lift, refresh, inspire and
comfort. “If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or
praiseworthy, we seek after these things. AND it is vital that you do.
Or connection that
uplifts inspires and nourishes our spirits. I am drawn to nature as many of you
are I am sure.
One of the first spiritual experiences I ever had
was in the great outdoors with nature.
When I was about
10 years old my family lived in California. Although my Mom and Dad had not yet
introduced me and my brothers to God or church we were introduced to nature and
its beauty very early on. We spent many Sundays taking family trips and outings
where we were allowed to experience nature.
On one of these trips my family went to the Redwood
Forest in California. I have never forgotten the forest and it is on my bucket
list to return there at least once more.
I made a connection to nature that day unlike any I had
ever felt. I don’t recall much about the trip. I don’t remember how long it
took to get there, or if we took a picnic. I don’t recall anything anyone said
to me or how long we stayed. But, I do recall the color and smell of these
amazing trees. I remember the way the earth felt under my feet and the way the
sun filtered through the tops of these enormous and beautiful trees. I do
recall my amazement at the size and majesty of this creation. Somehow they
seemed more alive to me than any other plant I had ever encountered. I had a
spiritual awakening and I remember the feelings of connection I felt to those trees.
I remember the awe I felt as a child as I walked through them. The feeling of awe I had, and still have… every
time I recall the trees or see a picture of them. As a young girl I did not
know what this overwhelming feeling was that I experienced as I walked among
these gigantic trees and felt their sacred power that day. But I do now. My spirit
recognized this beautiful place as a place of beauty, majesty and sacredness. A
place where my spirit was nourished and I felt a connection to God unlike I had
ever felt before.
A Prayer about Nature and God's Creation
Loving Father and Creator of all we come to you today deeply
grateful for your creation. As we look around us we are amazed at the greatness
and majesty of all that you have made. Nature around us speaks of your
greatness - the vast expanse of the sky, the mountains, trees, lakes and
streams speak of your great design. You have given us such beauty in the colors
of the rainbow, the beauty of flowers and fields. Words cannot adequately
express the magnificence of all you have created. We join in praise with the
writer of the psalms when he says, "O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your
name in all the earth." May we show our love and reverence to you, our
Lord, by caring for all that you have created. We humbly give you praise and
thanks. Amen
I am
realizing this blog could go on and on as I try to describe ways that I nourish
my spirit…
I cannot
list them all but if you will, I would like to add one more
The
beauty of light inspires and uplifts me…
My mother passed away about 11 years ago. Of course I still miss
her but the first few months were the worst.
She died in February and the days of winter had already become
cold and short. I realized by the end of March that I was depressed and was
having a hard time pulling myself out of it. I began to feel like darkness was
closing in on me. As the hour of the day would approach 4 pm I would start to
dread sundown. It made me feel cold and so alone. It finally became so bad I
would go out at night in search of the moon so I could see the reflection of
the sun there. I knew if the moon was shining then the sun was too…somewhere.
And that became very important to me as I struggled to find happiness in life
again. I finally felt the depression lift as spring came around, but I gained a
great love and appreciation for the sun and its light that winter.
I am not one
to keep the curtains closed during the day and when I wake up one of the first
things I do is pull the curtains back and let the light of day filter into my
home.
I remember my daughter
Cheryl lived with me while I was going through this and helped me during those
long months of winter by encouraging me to fill the house with candles.
Everywhere we could find a spot for a candle, we had one. I still love and look
forward to candles and twinkling lights at the beginning of winter and through
the holidays until spring or as long as I can get away with.
I love art that uses light as part of its artistic process and
isn’t complete without it. Like stained glass. Although I have only had a
little experience with stained glass, I am certainly a lover of this art and
would like to learn more about it. There are lots of pieces of art that show
reflections of light in amazing ways and I am always drawn to those pieces of
art in a nurturing way... I look for ways to bring light into my home with art
and in other creative ways.
I love the analogy of
Christ being the light of the world. I see light as an amazing gift that
nourishes my spirit and lifts my heart to a happy place just as I see my
savior. He is the light of my life.
As I end this blog I just want to recall the last blog I wrote
several months ago. I wrote about the lack of spiritual nourishment I had
experienced and how important it is to not let this happen. I have spent a lot of
time pondering the wonderful gifts I have in my life that inspire me and uplift
me. The gifts that nourish my spirit and help me live a happy life. I cannot
close without mentioning the greatest gift of all.
Love.
Love really does lift me up to where I belong, just like the
song says. Thank you God for the ability to love and be loved and especially
for your love…and all the wonderful ways you fill my life with it.
That emptiness you feel…that hole in the pit of your soul…you
know what I am talking about? You can’t fill that with food. You are in need of
spiritual nourishment. It will be vital to your health in every way to find
what nourishes your spirit and feed it.
Bon Appetit Butterflies!
