Between Two Worlds

I never really thought of it that way before.

I was walking outside, the cold snow crunching under my feet. The brisk air was invigorating and soft, simple clouds streaked the sky. The sun was starting to set as the Alaskan days continued to shorten.

To my right, cars were occasionally passing by on the road next to the walking path. I could hear them approach, but the moment they were gone it was back.

Silence.

Stillness.

I stopped walking and really looked at the forest around me. And the moment I paused,

an entire world opened up to me.

Gone was the world of moving legs, crunching snow, streams of thought, and passing cars.

Present was the world of trees, stoic and graceful in their stillness. Small birds softly chirped and the wind blew at less than a whisper. I could really see what was around me and for a moment, I was a part of this world. This time and space of stillness.

My breathing and heart rate slowed.

My thoughts evaporated in my mind.

My body, finally resting.

And as another car passed beside me, I felt disconnected from it. As if I was in this world of stillness and the world of motion was no longer my world.

I wasn’t just moving through like everything else in motion around me. I was present, spending time with and communing with my surroundings. It was such a beautiful experience and made me wonder if the reason we are so unhappy, worried, depressed, busy, burdened, and disconnected is because we dwell in the world of motion and have all but forgotten the world of stillness around us.

One verse becomes more real to me:

“Be still and know that I am God.”

The mind and body and heart that are busy, often forget God. But the still spirit remembers it’s Creator.

In that moment, I remembered. And could deeply feel God’s awareness and presence with me.

But, being a creature also bound by time, the moment passed. My break ended. I took a deep breath and turned to walk back.

Moving legs. Crunching snow. Streams of thought. Passing cars.

Until another moment,

Jasmine