Where IS my happy place?

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