The Divine’s Gift of Nature
I was flying home on Friday night after a long week of work with a client. It was late and I was tired, eager to get home but feeling good about the week’s work. During the flight, I finished writing a report - another accomplishment in a busy week. As I felt the airplane start its descent into my home town airport, I happened to look out the window. Just slightly behind my glance was a half-moon that was blood red. A harvest moon in August - I couldn’t believe it! I sucked in my breath and just stared at its glamour. Right there in that claustrophobic airplane seat, I had a luminous experience in which I was one with All That Is. In that moment, there was no separation between me, the moon, God and all earthly beings. In other words, I experienced God.
The moment passed. I smiled and drifted back to my physical reality, packed into a late-night flight, homeward bound.
What is it about nature that so often enables us to experience our connection to God? I have a partial theory. The beauty of nature takes our breath away because it is freely given. We do nothing to deserve a beautiful red moon, a colorful sunset or the crash of waves on the beach. It is a gift given for no reason. It surprises us, like a friend who brings an unexpected gift. The lavishness of the gift can be overwhelming. It takes our breath away.
It is the love of the Divine, freely given.
I thought a lot about your post. And my walk through the local park, around the duck pond, over the hill to the small grove of middle-aged oak trees to my meditation place set me lovingly in my own “luminous” home… or one of them. As you’ve found, too,, there are no words to adequately describe either a luminous or Luminous experience, But what I feel sitting on the ground uunder that particular oak is such a sense of welcome and belonging — I sort of melt into it — at “its” invitation — like an all-over spiritual hug. Wow …
Linda
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