Close your eyes and come with me for a moment into the trees, into the wild. Into the forest. It’s quiet. No cars. No rush. It’s been a long hard winter – but we’re not going to think about that now. We need a moment.
A breath.
There are lines of sunshine streaming down, splashing across some of the branches and trunks around us. Sparking golden here and there against deep green moss and the delicate spread of cedar branches. But we’re sitting in the shade. Backs pressed against the fragrant, sturdy trunk of a giant cedar. Cushioned against the ground with a carpet of moss and fallen needles. The air is cool and refreshing against our cheeks, full of the wild scents of cedar and berries starting and rain that has come and gone.
Can you see it yet? Can you feel it seeping in?
It’s quiet here. But not silent. There are birds singing. There’s a creek nearby, we can hear it gurgle and splash and play its way down across the rocks it bounces and jumps across. An eagle chortles from its high perch somewhere. Its voice is the wild cry of freedom and it makes our hearts gape and cry out with it in silent awe.
He’s here… sitting between us, his shoulder sturdy against our own. Jesus. His head is resting against the bark beside our own. He’s watching some of the little birds swoop and flit from sunshine to shade. Content to be with us. Enjoying his portion. Delighting in our presence.
Sit here for a minute with me. Imagine it.
Holy Spirit made this space for us, opened the veil between our hearts and God’s presence. Can you feel it? The quiet of the forest? The steady, comforting safety of Jesus pressed up close against our sides? Can you put yourself here, away from the bustle and the pain and the tiredness?
Our souls wake up in our imagination when we let them. They get filled up and refreshed with that spring of water we can hear bubbling and murmuring to itself not too far away. Peace happens every time when we step into this contemplative imagery with the Trinity and allow Jesus to step into it with us. Beauty and food for our weary hearts.
Let your heart slow. Let it sit, snug and secure in the peace. In the bigness around us – where we are small, and loved, and child-like next to the Being surrounding us.
We are loved – deeply. Fiercely. Our souls are held safe and treasured. And in this moment, right now, come to this imaginary forest with me and remember it. Let your soul be still. Jesus is here, not just back in history. Holy Spirit is always working to unlock our hearts and minds and bring us into Yahweh’s presence. Whose love for us is new every morning.
In his hand is the life of every living thing, and the breath of every human being – Job 12:10
May you feel it. The peace.
Once Upon the Ink 
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