I’ve discovered a place to call my own here at the monastery. It’s a little patch of lawn off to the side of the main driveway; it sits right underneath a tree and catches the best afternoon sunshine. Between the insanity of travel, schoolwork, and daily life here in France, this is the place where I’ve come to feel the most at peace. It is my refuge from studying, anxiety, drama, and homesickness, just to name a few. When stress begins to tug at my heartstrings, I just pack up a big blanket, a good book, and my sunglasses and head out to my spot. I’ve been lucky over the past few days; the beautiful 70-degrees-F weather has made it a true delight to sit outside and just breathe.
One day, while reading “The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo” in my spot, I witnessed a beautiful moment in nature. I had been completely absorbed in my book for several hours when I decided to simply lie back and soak in my surroundings. Soft evening shadows had slowly replaced the golden beams of sunshine that had warmed the earth. This is my favorite time of day, the magical moment of twilight. The air seems to glow with the golden light of the setting sun, and there is a calm hum of energy in the background. It’s funny how quickly nature will accept your presence if you are still and calm, and do not impose yourself upon it. Time, as it passed, seemed both relevant and relative to me. I missed the tail-end of the sunset in, quite literally, the blink of an eye. I didn’t feel disappointed, but rather filled with wonder at the universe. How can something so great and powerful as the sun slip quietly behind the horizon without my noticing it?
Wind in my hair and grass between my toes seem to transport me to a higher level of consciousness. A raven flapped by and I actually heard each wingbeat against the evening air. I felt this amazing sense of clarity. That, to me, is heaven.
Living Life Out Loud 