Spiritual Health

Ever since winter hit last November I’ve done my daily exercising on the tread mill in my home. But today I walked outside in the sunshine. Green trees, blossoms, and flowers waved at me like old friends and the crisp cool air filled me with its freshness. What a way to start a day.

We’ve had record amounts of snow and rain in Utah this year which means that the last few days of sunshine are melting the mountain snow and sending it down the rivers. The Provo River I walk along overflowed its banks and ran swifter than I’ve ever seen it. The music of the rushing river, the sound of birds in the trees, the whisper of my shoes on the sidewalk made me want to sing.

But the best thing was the stop on the bridge to meditate for a moment. I didn’t realize how much I missed that. Taking a moment to consciously let go of the bad energy and drink in the good energy is health for the soul. That healing is vital and while the treadmill replaced the exercising adequately, I didn’t do anything to replace the healing time. I’m resolved now to figure out a way to replace my “bridge” time when I exercise on the treadmill.

It is surprising, but just that two or three minutes a day makes a big difference in how the day goes. I feel like a new me! Happy sunshine to you all!

Pods for Peas

One of my favorite scriptures is found in Moses 6:63 where we are told: “And behold, all things have their likeness, and all things are created and made to bear record of me, both things which are temporal, and things which are spiritual; things which are in the heavens above, and things which are on the earth, and things which are in the earth, and things which are under the earth, both above and beneath: all things bear record of me.” Because of this verse I walk through my days looking at the things around me and pondering on what they teach me about Jesus Christ and often am delighted at the things I discover.

Just this morning I was thinking about how things in nature are made in a way that gives them the best possibility of growing to their full potential. Seeds come in protective pods; fawns are born with spotted coats so predators won’t detect them among the shadows of the tress; and chameleons change colors to blend with their surroundings. Everywhere you look in nature you find that just the right color, just the right size, just the right attribute is given to things to help them do what they are supposed to do.

And if everything else is just right for what it is supposed to do, why not me? While I don’t have spots, or a protective pod, when I analyze my life closely I realize that I have been given just the right talents, just the right attributes, and just the right assets to help me and the people I am responsible for find security, happiness, and peace in life.

Next time I see a pea in a pod, I’m going to appreciate that pod more and remember that God has also given me what is best for me!

A Walk in the Woods

I’m in California this week visiting with three of my daughters. Today we went to Muir Woods and wandered under Redwood trees that are hundreds of years old. Standing underneath them you can’t even see to the top and the trunks are huge. Moss padded the side of the trees and green foliage covered the ground. People crowded along the walkway, many of them speaking French or Spanish, but all amazed at the wonders.

After the walk through the woods, we went to Muir Beach Overlook to eat lunch. The cold wind made it difficult to eat, but the view, hundreds of feet above the ocean, was spectacular.

While we walked and climbed, I mainly listened to the chatter of my grandchildren. They grumbled, laughed, teased, and made jokes. But the best came from the two oldest boys who kept finding depressions or hollowed out trees and shouting, “Hey, look! A hobo could live here.” I was so busy listening that I think my daughters thought I wasn’t paying attention. But I was. I watched as the teenager carried his one-year-old cousin on his shoulders. I listen to the girls talk about their children. I watched them mother. (They are wonderful mothers!) And I thought about how blessed I am. There is nothing as wonderful as having so many things to be grateful for all in the same place and time—family and nature. Who could ask for anything more?