Seeking Solace Through Solitude

Do you ever feel unbearably sad? Do you ever feel a deep ache inside as if the water in your body has receded and all that’s left of you is a heap of dry bones? I sometimes do.
But dry bones have been known to dance. At least according to Ezekiel in the Old Testament.
Once the bones start moving, anything can happen.
Achy joints can become supple again. Loss can seem like gain. 
Blossoming can still be possible, even in drought conditions. And flowering brings more life — even visitations.
God waters my dry bones when I feel this way and sets in motion a field of possibilities — from mere acceptance to barely audible murmurs of joy. And in stillness, in solitude, I can hear the whispers.

Photos © Sondra Sula.

Take a walk with me by reading my most recent 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.

Inevitable Movement

“Escaping the Wind” by Sondra Sula

Everything is moving. Some things, such as dragonfly wings, are moving so fast we can barely see them, and other things, such as rocks, are moving so slowly, they appear to be stationary. Have you ever been standing outside and thought: the earth is moving me right now, rotating me from day to night to day? Well, it’s true!

“Teasel Layer Cake” by Sondra Sula

A mighty wind was present today as I walked with great confidence on the surface of our spinning planet, completely unaware as to whether I was walking with the movement or against it. The wind allowed me access to insects that would normally be too speedy to photograph up close because they were trying to shelter themselves. I was also able to see plants moving: petals fluttering, flowers sailing, and leaves bracing against bursts of air.

“Queen of Spades” by Sondra Sula

When I get stuck and feel like I’m going nowhere, it helps me to remember that the whole earth is moving me. The dark night will turn into day even if I’m standing still. And if I defiantly run counter to the rotation, I will eventually feel the sunlight on my back anyway because I can’t outwit a movement that’s been happening long before human existence.

“Petals Aflutter” by Sondra Sula