Communing with Nature

During the last few months, my church worship has had some pretty dramatic changes; we haven't met as a congregation since March. Some areas are starting to venture back but, as far as I've heard, my area is not making any moves any time soon. So, as a family, we do our lessons, we read our scriptures and pray. Those things are great, but I also find that on Sundays, we tend to try to be outside more.

Nature is God's creation and I find great peace when I go out hiking, or stand near great bodies of water.. I love the fresh air and the time I have to appreciate this beautiful world of ours. Also, standing near big things that make me feel diminutive, often gives me pause and I think about my place in the grand scheme of things. Kind of like in this song.

This week, I had the chance to take the boys and meet up with some friends for a (socially distant) get together. It had been a good while since we'd hung out, so that was an exciting prospect. Plus, they'd been talking to me for a while about the joys of flying kites and I'd recently gotten me one and was eager to try it out! As it happened, the weather was right on Sunday afternoon and we seized the day. 

It was a great day for it. We'd finally gotten a break in our never-ending heatwave; it was still sunny but it was a nice temperature to be outside. The park wasn't very crowded, which was a relief. And, of course, that which brought us out - the lovely breeze. These folks are fond of flying kites and they had several they got going pretty quickly. 

While the kids held fast to their strings, my friends helped me get mine off the ground. I hadn't done much kite flying to this point but, happily, I'd been led right at the store and this kite caught the wind well and was nice and easy to get going. 

Kites are funny things. When you look at them, the colors are often garish and overly bright. However, when you get them up into the sky, and the sun shines through them.. it's a little like stained glass. And finding a good breeze is a little like fishing, not that I'm much of a fisher, but when you find a good current and your kite is sailing smoothly, it's calming and meditative. Standing, holding the string, back on the ground, you can watch the kite bob and soar, and it gives you a moment to appreciate the beauty around you, and take a moment to see the goodness in the now and, really, just contemplate lots of things.

While we were standing around, being contemplative, my friend and I chatted a while about how kites can be like faith or testimony. How you have to really be watching the kite, keeping track of the tension on the string, or else it will fall. Or how to you have to seek to find the good currents that take you up. And sometimes you kite will plop right down, but then you pick it up and go again. 

Anyway, it was a lovely afternoon; good friends, good conversation (even thought provoking), and the kids got to run and play. I came away feeling uplifted and fed.... and like I just might need to get another kite.