The sun is shining through the windows
The hum of the refrigerator
Birds chirping
Pine on walls and ceiling
Gingham couch
An area rug
Furniture from the past
I am here
Alone
It is so quiet
Stillness
In the midst of the place
That is very reminiscent of home
And full of memories past
Its quiet and magical at the same time
It is familiar and comforting
Although I sometimes do not always see it as my happy place
I know it is
In this strange kind of way
Where is my happy place?
Walking along the sand
Waves lapping up and covering my tracks
Bugs buzzing by
Seagulls flying
And Eagles soaring up higher
Depending on the location
There could be a mist or spray that lands on my lips
Salty
Or close to home,
the sparkle of the sun on the lakes close to home
There is a solitude that happens
Even amidst people laying on the sand
I can still experience stillness in my soul
And the presence of the Almighty
Walking in the woods
The smell of mud and moss’
Of downed trees that are decomposing
And the smell of trees stretching high toward the sky
And knowing that they are deeply rooted to an underground community
Big breath in
The smell that is of pine and musk,
Of sunshine and clean air
Whether tall redwoods of the East Coast
Or the oaks and poplars of land close by
The woods provide a home for me to experience
Stilness
And the presence of the Almighty
Sitting by the fire
The oranges and yellows, and sometimes blue hues
The crackle and sparks that fly
The smoke and the glow of the coals
I sit taking it in
The sight and the sounds
The warmth and the significance
Of the coals being in community
And keeping each other alive and glowing
The fires do not happen as much lately
But even when sitting in a circle around a fire
In the times in between conversation
I can experience stillness within
And the presence of the Almighty
On my deck
I sit.
I walk
I lean on the banister
I shut my eyes and take in the sound of the wind chimes
Or the birds that are singing
I can hear the sound of the trees as the wind shakes their branches
And I can feel the breath of the wind on my face
My deck provides a space for me to sit
And breathe
To sit and take in creation around me
The games that the squirrels play
The shiny blackness of the crows
The blue hues of my favourite Blue Jays
I shut my eyes and feel the sun shine on me
And creation comes to life as I am still
I experience that stillness within
And the presence of the Almighty
I sit here on the threadworn couch
Obviously beautiful a few decades ago
The sun shines on my left arm
The fridge stopped its humming
The pine reminds me of the work that my husband and dad in law did
Seemed endless at the time
No wonder this is really Alvin’s happy place
I sit here listening to the birds outside,
And the tapping go fly computer keys as I write this
I realize in this place,
This cabin that is quiet
I experience the stillness within
And the presence of the Almighty
Where is my happy place?
Along the sand and water
In the deep of the woods
Alongside of a campfire
On my deck
Or here in the cabin
My happy place comes when I am able to experience stillness
To experience the presence of my God with me
To feel the fullness of the Spirit within
And to be in stillness
To sit and mediate on the One who gives melee
Who has blessed me more than I can write
Who tends to my soul
To sit with the One to whom my praise and worship belongs
And to the one that I experience close to me in the stillness
Where is YOUR happy place,
and what does that mean for you?
Let me know
with love
J
