Heeding the Still, Small Voice

Do you ever put off something you want to do because of fear? I do. 

I’ve wanted to walk in the Gualala River during dry season for years, but have never done it for fear of sliding down the steep embankment and not being able to climb back up. 

I was recently walking down by that river and a little internal voice told me today was the day and prayed I wouldn’t get hurt. 

I found a walking stick which helped me navigate the precipitous slope; however, I did slide down the last ten feet, thankfully without injury. 

I felt so blessed to see the striking white stones, clear water and colorful floating leaves. I even saw eight baby common merganser ducklings behind their mother swim a just few feet from me. 

The only people on the river besides me were a young couple with an infant. I assumed they had found a better trail, but when asked, they told me they had slid down too, clutching their baby. 

On my return I prayed, “If there’s another easier way to get back up, please show me, Lord.” 

But I ended up at the same exact trail. I had a lot of trouble trying to climb back up until a little internal voice suggested I move to the left. There I found a connecting trail with a black rope that was difficult to see against the dark brown soil. It was connected to a tree higher up the bank which enabled me to easily climb back up without incident. 

What did I learn? 

The internal still, small voice is occasionally The Divine nudging us to overcome our fears and truly trust Spirit.

Photos © Sondra Sula. 

Take a walk with me by reading my daily devotional book, Meditations on Mendocino by Sondra Sula. Available on Amazon in paperback or Kindle versions. 

If you’d prefer a daily river walk, Reflections on the Fox River and Beyond by Sondra Sula, might just be the book for you. 

The Place Called Life

There is a big difference between who I am and who I want to be. 

I like to think of myself as serene and 

spiritually awakened and 

living in the moment. 

But the reality is that I’m often anxious. 

I forget to call on God for help in difficult situations. 

I can obsess about future events that may never happen. 

However, I never stop trying to be a better person 

because it is important to me 

to grow and evolve — 

even though God accepts me as I am right this minute. 

There is a strange and wonderful balance 

between accepting myself as I am 

and striving to improve that same “I am.” 

I suppose that place is called: Life. 

Photos © Sondra Sula. 

Take a walk with me by reading my daily devotional book, Meditations on Mendocino by Sondra Sula. Available on Amazon in paperback or Kindle versions. 

If you’d prefer a daily river walk, Reflections on the Fox River and Beyond by Sondra Sula, might just be the book for you. 

The Questions

Who are you? 

Where are you going? 

Where have you been? 

Who have you loved? 

Who will you love? 

Photos © Sondra Sula. 

Take a walk with me by reading my daily devotional book, Meditations on Mendocino by Sondra Sula. Available on Amazon in paperback or Kindle versions. 

If you’d prefer a daily river walk, Reflections on the Fox River and Beyond by Sondra Sula, might just be the book for you. 

Taking a Mini Break

Do you ever need to take a mini break? 

I do. 

When I am overwhelmed 

or anxious 

or angry 

or incredibly busy — 

that’s exactly when I need a mini break to reconnect with God. 

It can be as simple as looking out the window at a cloud 

or closing my eyes for a few moments in prayer.

Seeking The Presence in distress will likely calm me. At least it’s worth a try.

Photos © Sondra Sula. 

Take a walk with me by reading my daily devotional book, Meditations on Mendocino by Sondra Sula. Available on Amazon in paperback or Kindle versions. 

If you’d prefer a daily river walk, Reflections on the Fox River and Beyond by Sondra Sula, might just be the book for you. 

Bossing God Around

I’ve been reading the story of Jesus’s first miracle — changing water into wine — at the wedding in Cana. 

I’ve never thought of Mary as an overbearing, bossy mother, but in this situation, she is. 

Most depictions of Mary are of a teenage girl pulling back timidly from Gabriel’s annunciation, or of her glowing face as she holds the baby Jesus. Even when she cradles the adult Jesus, dead in her lap, she appears youthful and demure. 

But by the time Jesus began his ministry, she was middle-aged, her husband had died years before and she had her hands full taking care of the Son of God. 

When she told Jesus at the wedding: “Do something! The wine is gone and there’s plenty of celebrating left to go,”

Jesus replied, “I’m not ready. Don’t push me.”

But she overruled him, telling the servants to follow Jesus’s instructions, even though he hadn’t planned on giving any — and he obeyed her. 

I realized Mary was bossing God around! And I thought: how often do I do that? Tell God what to do and how to do it as I pray for various outcomes? Don’t I trust God to know what’s best for everyone involved?

This speaks to the humanity of Mary, Jesus and all of us: to follow or question, to push back or go forward. 

We will eventually know what to do in each situation: either our inner voice will tell us, or someone we know and trust will push us into the right decision.

Either way, we’re in good company.

Photos © Sondra Sula. 

Take a walk with me by reading my daily devotional book, Meditations on Mendocino by Sondra Sula. Available on Amazon in paperback or Kindle versions. 

If you’d prefer a daily river walk, Reflections on the Fox River and Beyond by Sondra Sula, might just be the book for you. 

Nature Speaks

Cactus Flower: Just when you thought things couldn’t get any better, there may be an even more amazing surprise in store for you.

Striped Succulent: Be bold!

Leafhopper: Take a rest in beauty; it has a calming effect.

Camellia Grove: Both light and shadow shape you into who you are.

Tree Houseleek: Together we can build a world in which everyone blossoms.

Agave: I’m only thorny on the outside for protection; inside I’m vulnerable.

White Camellias: Perspective changes from above.

Garden Path: Take the path that is calling you.

Ground Camellias: Stay strong even after you’ve fallen.

Pink Camellia: Reach out your arms to embrace each new day.

Tiny Camellias: You don’t have to be big to be powerful.

Narrow-Leaved Succulent: When you center yourself, everything works together.

Photos © Sondra Sula. 

Take a walk with me by reading my daily devotional book, Meditations on Mendocino by Sondra Sula. Available on Amazon in paperback or Kindle versions. 

If you’d prefer a daily river walk, Reflections on the Fox River and Beyond by Sondra Sula, might just be the book for you. 

Expecting Solutions

God has been teaching me a lesson in expectant thankfulness.

This happens when I encounter a problem 

and I try to come up with solutions which I think are pretty good, 

but then God swoops in and comes up with a solution that is better than anything I’ve thought of — 

in fact, something that wasn’t even in the realm of possibility 

in my finite mind. 

This happens again and again, 

with tiny things as well as large problems. 

There have been a few times recently where I’m actually looking forward to the new twist God has in store for me. 

I’m also realizing that perhaps I am causing the difficulty in some of these cases, 

and when that happens, I’m taught new ways to see the problem from many different angles. 

I’m already thankful expecting the next problem to be solved.

Photos © Sondra Sula. 

Take a walk with me by reading my daily devotional book, Meditations on Mendocino by Sondra Sula. Available on Amazon in paperback or Kindle versions. 

If you’d prefer a daily river walk, Reflections on the Fox River and Beyond by Sondra Sula, might just be the book for you. 

The Comparison Trap

Sometimes I fall into the trap of comparing myself to others.

Not only is this useless, 

it’s meaningless as well, 

because we are each unique 

with gifts that are particularly ours. 

Even identical twins are not exactly the same in character and temperament. 

The other day a teenage girl came into the rock shop where I work asking which stone would make her prettier. 

I said: “I’ve never heard of such a stone, but looking at you, I don’t think it’s something you need to worry about.” 

She was stunning, but obviously did not see herself that way because she was comparing herself to someone else. 

Perhaps you have a gift that others don’t understand or appreciate. 

It is still your gift, and The Divine gave it to you for a reason. 

Comparison to others only creates subtle pride or subtle inferiority; don’t fall into its tempting trap. 

Photos © Sondra Sula. 

Take a walk with me by reading my daily devotional book, Meditations on Mendocino by Sondra Sula. Available on Amazon in paperback or Kindle versions. 

If you’d prefer a daily river walk, Reflections on the Fox River and Beyond by Sondra Sula, might just be the book for you. 

Time

I never feel like I have any “free” time; every minute seems scheduled from sunup to sundown. 

Others in my life get shortchanged. 

I get shortchanged, too, because I need a lot of time alone, simply to function like a semi-normal human being. 

Solitude is where I meet God, so it’s not really like being alone at all. 

And when God recently asked me to spend more quality time in this state of solitude, I balked: Where can I possibly find more time?

And the answer came: “I will bend time in your favor.”

For the past month I have experienced this miraculous time bending to accommodate God’s request. And it has been wonderful. 

Perhaps it will spread out into other areas of my life, but for now, I will accept this gift. 

Photos © Sondra Sula. 

Take a walk with me by reading my daily devotional book, Meditations on Mendocino by Sondra Sula. Available on Amazon in paperback or Kindle versions. 

If you’d prefer a daily river walk, Reflections on the Fox River and Beyond by Sondra Sula, might just be the book for you. 

The Unitive State

When I am in a unitive state where I feel one with all things — 

and by things, I mean people, animals, plants, minerals (literally everything) — 

I have also become one with God.

I feel no separateness, no boundary keeping us apart. 

This results from a yearning so deep in my soul, 

a thirst so great, that it can only be quenched by The Divine. 

And I am drawn to The Divine through this very longing. 

All questions fall away; 

I need to know nothing but this love.

As a river is lost in the sea 

and I am lost in God 

the river becomes the sea 

and I become one with The One who encompasses all things, 

who holds the cosmos together through Love. 

Photos © Sondra Sula. Inspired by Eknath Easwaran’s translation of the Mundaka Upanishad, part III; [2].

Take a walk with me by reading my daily devotional book, Meditations on Mendocino by Sondra Sula. Available on Amazon in paperback or Kindle versions. 

If you’d prefer a daily river walk, Reflections on the Fox River and Beyond by Sondra Sula, might just be the book for you.