Honoring the Sacred.....

"Mid all the traffic of the ways,

Turmoils without, within,

Make in my heart a quiet place,

And come and dwell therein!

A little shrine of quietness,

All sacred to thyself,

Where Thou shalt all my soul possess,

And I may find myself!

-(John Oxenhan)

There is a wonderful movement found here where sweet souls are taking the time to nurture the sacred in their lives. And oh there is much to be found sacred! I was reminded today the great need our spirits have for communion with God. To just take some time to let the quiet envelope our hearts and breathe slowly and deeply. To hear the soft whisper of the Creator. To pray, to ask searching questions and listen for the answers. We search in so many places for what can be found in the quietness of vulnerable and honest reflection. I spent too much time thinking it was to be found on-line today in all the places that beckon to the artist!. God gently asked me to shut off the computer, make a cup of tea and share some sacred moments.

Its easy to fill every waking moment with the searching. Although the internet can be a wonderful tool and way to reach out into the world it can also take you in as it's prisoner. As an artist whose work is sold mainly online its so tempting to feel the pressure and pull to be everywhere on-line. There are so many groups, communities, blogging and networking sites etc that one can be a part of. It can be really overwhelming. Its not surprising really... ours souls were designed with a deep longing for community...to be known..to be found. There are some wonderful people and places to be found. But the more time I spend time facing a computer screen, I am finding the less I feel the fresh air on my face. Maybe its just me... but it can be so time consuming. And I wonder...is it feeding our souls with what can truly nourish us? Are we finding what we are searching for? Are we avoiding anything that needs our attention more? Is it taking more than it is giving? I suppose it all comes back to balance...as does most things in this life. Moderation can bring great benefit. But maybe...once in awhile...it is good to step away from this other world in a box and walk out our front doors to see the sunshine and take in the expanse of our real surroundings...to take a walk with the Creator and nurture the sacred. What will we hear? What will we see? What might we discover if we are willing to listen?