There is a park nearby that has roads and trails that lead up a hill. It provides a beautiful view, and you can see Boston in the distance.
Walking through the woods is a wonderful way to oneness. Connecting with God and God’s creation does more for our souls than we feel or realize. Sometimes, we can certainly experience the salve of peace that is applied to our innermost being during and after a nature walk; many times, we do not feel some kind of instant gratification, but are healed nonetheless. If you live in an urban area, do your best to reconnect with the natural world by finding a park or beach nearby. Be quiet as you soak up the beauty of creation and exercise gratitude to the Creator.
After spending most of my life on Cape Cod, a sandy arm that sticks out into the Atlantic Ocean, it is always a pleasure to walk through woods with great stones and rock outcroppings. Cape Cod is literally nothing but sand (you don’t have to dig far into the ground before the dirt becomes sand); any rock of size is named (Doane Rock) or recognized (Rock Harbor) because large rocks are so rare.
During a recent saunter through the woods, I paused to soak in the surrounding view. Everything created a beautiful landscape. The trees, the great rocks, the smaller stones, the moss, the vines, the pine needles, the fallen trees, and the ferns all worked together as the harmony of a great symphonic orchestra to produce an unspeakable joy that welled up inside me. You know that feeling, when in a moment you’re caught up by a painting, photograph, musical event, or experience in which a wave of awe washes over you? This was one of those moments.
What caught my eye, though, was a lone tree trunk at the top of a slight roll in the hillside. It looked somewhat fresh and recently broken. The trunk was probably about 4 or 5 feet tall and the fallen tree lay out of sight. Nevertheless, it added to the beauty of nature. Anyone who enjoys such walks takes in the old, dead, and broken just as much as they take in the newly sprouted and longstanding. Any nature lover would never think to clear out what some might consider “not as pretty” just for the sake of a “perfect” view. It’s all part of the picture. Every piece is included in the whole. It’s all beautiful.
And at that moment, it struck me: even the broken are beautiful.
When I was a young boy, someone said, “It is easy to love the lovely.” It implies that if we are to flex our spiritual muscles, if we are to learn to be like God, if we are to do our individual part to reduce the negativity of this world, then we are to love the unlovely, as well. It is a hard lesson and takes us out of our comfort zone; nevertheless, we can receive a blessing if we choose to learn it.
When you come across someone who you would usually look down upon or judge or avoid, love them. Reject the negative thoughts and feelings that naturally (or I should say, habitually) arise. Send out positive thoughts and feelings. Say silently in your mind, “I love you. God loves you. I am sending you love and compassion. Love, light, and peace be yours.” Whatever it is you say doesn’t have to be that long. It can be quick, but it must be heartfelt. Overcome the negative—whether it’s fear, hate, loathing, disgust, vengeance, or resentment—with the positive thoughts and feelings of love. In that moment, you are one with God, Spirit, our Creator, and the Source of our being.
Sending that person momentary or steady thoughts of love and compassion can make a difference—nay, it can make the difference.
You never know what someone else is going through right now or what hurts they have suffered in the past. You don’t know why they act they way they do. They are broken. They are damaged. But even in using those words, we are implying that they were once whole, complete, and perfectly made.
Likewise, you never know the effect you have on that person’s life. Whether it’s a simple passing by on the sidewalk or hallway, or a long-term working relationship, or a life-long friendship or family relationship, we leave impressions on everyone around us. We are all connected. We are all damaged. Therefore, treat all you meet with respect, for you never know the impact you make on that soul.