Finding Time and Space for Renewal in the New Year
Awakening to Snapshots of Glory
High in the mountains of western Japan is a rustic lakeside cabin where I sometimes rested and rejuvenated between exhausting stints of busyness in congested cities. Year-round snow glistened on distant peaks, sending its frigid melt-off down canyons into deep waters. For me, Lake Nojiri was a soul-nurturing sanctuary away from city stresses.
During my retreats, I discovered an amazing phenomenon. If I awakened early and rowed out from shore at dawn before the heat of the day, I could see mirror images of spectacular peaks reflecting on glassy water. Light and shadows danced across pristine liquid as the sun ascended. Time and again I experienced snapshots of glory.
However, some days I clung to the comfort of bed, letting the sun arise before me. On those days, I missed the morning reflection. By the time I awakened, the rising sun cast its heat upon the waters. Winds came down from the mountains, putting feathered white caps on wave tops. Powerboats and jet skis further stirred the water, spewing out noise across the landscape. Gone was the glorious double blessing of the horizon until evening’s coolness came.
The Native American Traditional Code of Ethics starts with these words: “Each morning upon rising, and each evening before sleeping, give thanks for the life within you and for all life, for the good things the Creator has given you and for the opportunity to grow a little more each day. Consider your thoughts and actions of the past day and seek for the courage and strength to be a better person. Seek the things that will benefit others.” What rocks my little boat is the realization that life is a lake of opportunities. If we miss the morning calm, we can yet claim the breeze off the mountains to fill our sails and propel us where powerboats cannot go on empty tanks. Whether it is early, late, or in between, we may experience the profound joy of discovery. (The complete Native American Code of Ethics can be accessed here: www.sapphyr.net/natam/nacodeethics.htm).
Look Beyond the Peach Seeds!
Finding time and means to decompress is vital for sustaining body, mind and spirit when caught up in the frenetic pace of caregiving. Some people decompress on the face of a granite wall, inserting fingers and toes into narrow cracks and fissures. Others release their stress underneath zillions of gallons of water as fish (and maybe some sharks) swim with them across coral reefs. Still others unload the weight of their being by creating silky illusions of insects on fishhooks. Ancient Chinese artisans carved boats and birds and emperors on cherry pits and peach seeds. Where will you turn for renewal during this New Year? When, where and how will you seek to rejuvenate? Please share what works for you.
A Good Read for the New Year
More of Tom Becraft's writing may be found in "A Bamboo Grove for the Soul: A Storybook of Spiritual Resources for Caregivers." "A Bamboo Grove for the Soul" is available now through Amazon Books in both paperback and eBook formats. Click on the following link to obtain your copy: https://www.amazon.com/Bamboo-Grove-Soul-Storybook-Caregivers/dp/1481016555.