immersing in the elements

i am a worshipper of the elements: earth, air, fire, water (ok, maybe not so much fire). the most serene and blissful act in my life is taking time away from the year 2010 and just being among earth's beauty. don't get me wrong, i am also a worshipper of the iphone. angry birds app kicks so much ass right now. in a world where life can be overwhelming, i so much appreciate the self-soothing act of breathing in fresh air and hearing the sounds of water moving effortlessly. it is the most spiritual thing i have in my life...it is where i go to be close to God.

i've moved around a lot in my short lifespan (ozark, kansas city, hawaii, now virginia). every new habitat seems complete once i find my "earth spot". every earth spot has a different feel that i believe reflects a) the town/city i am living in, and more importantly b) the current state of affairs in my life. in ozark, my earth spot was a nature trail that followed along a river. this spot was unique in that the trails were always full of happy people. on a sunny

day, you could walk along the path and everyone you saw could be your best friend because everyone was so happy to enjoy the day. that was a period of my life that was abundant in close,

meaningful relationships (friends and family).

in kansas city, i lived in a neighborhood i love love loved! every morning, i would go jogging through the neighborhood and end on a pier overlooking the river for a nice stretch. there was also a modest view of the city, and city that i loved. this period of my life was full of new beginnings and excitement. i loved living in the city and being a new young professional. i was proud of my accomplishments and had an appreciation for a city that cherished the arts.

next i moved to hawaii, which has plenty of earth spots, as you can imagine. hawaii was an interesting stage in my life because i moved out there to achieve my dreams, which at the time were to have a tremendously successful career. i discovered something entirely different through several earth sessions among hawaii's breathtaking ocean views. i could

spend an entire day just looking at the horizon measuring what was important in my life.

i am so excited to announce that i found my local earth spot today. it is a humble river view with stunning views of trees, trees and more trees. there are remnants of pre-civil war era buildings that are just begging to be explored. this area is very different than former earth spots, and coincidently this stage in my life is different that former experiences. the river is shallow and therefore has a soothing sound, which provides me with the comfort i need right now. it amazes me how God's grace works, you just have to look for it. he provides you with exactly what you need if you ask for it and you are open to receiving it (sometimes in ways that are not apparent).

i know that no matter what happens in my life, i can find inner strength through the things that give me comfort and beauty....earth, air, water (no fire).

listen to: fallen awake by keri kimmel...."how long can we try can we keep holding on?"