“The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it but do not know where it comes from and where it is going, So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.” John 3:8
I re-acquainted myself with the J-stroke on the weekend as I sat in the stern of a canoe and paddled along the waters near Keswick Ridge. The blustery winds waxed and waned, allowing us to challenge our skills a bit, but also offering us contemplative pulling through the water of glass. The wind blows where it wishes.
We paddled across the channel towards an island. As we moved closer, the view we once had altered completely. What looked like a large island was in fact a grouping of small ones with inviting inlets to glide through. Our options were plenty as we circled the circumference.
Instead of remaining in that vicinity, we chose to continue across the body of water to what initially looked like a stretch of land. As we glided closer, an opening appeared which took us into a cove uninhabited by humans. The conifers and deciduous trees stood along the shoreline like a welcoming sentry. The shades of green....... spring green newness, were abundant. The textures of evergreen needles and lush leaves were visibly etched on the landscape. It allowed us the ability to recognize the beauty of each unique tree stand.
We continued paddling until we found one source, a water rippling brook which fed into the headpond....
We continued paddling until we found one source, a water rippling brook which fed into the headpond....
For two hours the winds reminded of a Spirit. Nature thrives in Its beauty. We thrive within nature. It's a symbiotic relationship we have. From this relationship we learn to see life from different angles. We are given the gift of reframing, reflecting, reviewing and then throwing some of our old thoughts and feelings right out into this wind. While we do that, we absorb the holiness of the windSpirit's essence.....through our hair, on our skin, touching our faces with awareness.
As we turned the canoe around and began to paddle back to where we started, we saw just how much our view had shifted. Small shifts....little journeys. Accompanied by the wind.
Vision over visibility....... helped by the spirit of the winds, and the J-stroke.
3 comments:
for we walk (or paddle) by faith, not by sight
Thank-you so much for sharing your journey. I love that you came to know that the water you were traveling upon was of one source much in the way that we are all from one source.
Mavis... I love that. You always leave me the best Bible snippets. thank you.
Mark. Canoeing has always had a strong sense of reverence for me. i need to get out on the water a lot this summer, and plan to. One source. Oneness. yes.
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