Thursday, June 18, 2020
Marian Ellis
Heal
There is something infinitely healing in the repeated refrains of nature. - Rachel Carson
One place I always find healing is the ocean. The moment I breathe in the salty air, I feel a calm wash over me. I find myself breathing more slowly and deeply and know that whatever worries I am carrying are about to diminish. I feel blessed to live as close to the ocean as I do. It’s not something that I ever take for granted, as I didn’t grow up near the beach and am so grateful to be just a few miles away now. My husband’s place of healing is the woods. He did grow up there and visibly relaxes when we go on a hike or even a walk off the beaten path. I don’t think it matters so much where you find your healing as much as that it’s important to slow down and take the time to look for it. These last three months have forced us all to slow down, and while there are many things that we’ve all missed out on (for me it was the end of my younger son’s senior year of high school and two long planned family vacations, for you something else equally as upsetting, I’m sure), there is a lesson here. I believe that what we have to do moving forward is find a way to maintain this slower pace as we move toward getting “back to normal”. Yes, I’m anxious to be back at church and can’t wait to travel again, but I’m going to do so with the refrain of the simple things that weren’t canceled through all of this and give thanks for what remains. Now, I’m off to the beach!