This is a time of grace for the Church as we celebrate the beginning of the Season of Creation on the 1st of September. Our World Day of Prayer is inviting us to renew our relationships with creation. During the last few months, I have been on sabbatical and spending time exploring some beautiful walks in nature. These places hold rich meaning and sacredness for us as we tap into the thousands of years in which the Aboriginal people have tilled and worked on the land on which I have walked throughout Southwestern Victoria, South Australia and up here in Northern Australia (on Magnetic Island).
Last night I had a restless sleep and could not sleep for some reason. Here I was reminded that when we are anxious or overloaded by the demands of work and responsibilities of everyday life, it’s important to remember to spend time in nature, and this can be a gateway to clear our minds and to lift off the heaviness which often can weigh us down.
What I have discovered as I have been walking in nature is the gift of silence. Silence is where we must go when we need to discover the truth about ourselves. Only there does God speak to the heart. Here, I have been able to breathe in the fresh air, to hear birds singing and to appreciate the gift of all creatures which need our protection in their natural habitat.
It’s easy to be blind to the voice of God, and to turn a blind eye or deaf ear to the cry of the earth. In the stillness of creation, I have enjoyed hearing the cry of the earth which summons me to draw into the deep spring which has existed for thousands of years underneath the Earth. I liken this to the living water which is Jesus himself who fills my heart to overflowing. These experiences have given me a sense of connection with something larger than myself, the greatness of God and his power to create and he who hold all that exists in this network of creation.
Rachel Fleurant