Earth

On earth there is no heaven, but there are pieces of it. - Jules Renard

The calendar is creeping up to the shortest days of the year, quickly followed by the coldest days of the year. When I am outside now, to run or walk or simply plod to the car, there is a certain kind of disconnect I have with the earth in the form of heavy shoes, snow and ice. There is this layer between me and my beloved outdoors. I am not able to feel grass, sand or dirt and I miss the sensation of bare feet on the ground. Almost nothing grows from the frozen soil right now, and nature holds back all of its color to preserve its energy for the spring. What can I do about this?? I have to do something about this! DO something...

As I searched for quotes to begin these thoughts on 'Earth' I was presented with dozens of poets and politicians, expressing their love or fear or wonderment of the earth in winter. Words like death and dying were prevalent, and frankly, I feel like they were missing the point. This time of year is not about nature being colorless, cold, barren or lifeless. I think that it is simply about rest.

Mother Nature completely gets it, while we fight it. We don't always have to be in motion, going somewhere, doing something. Yes, growth in nature and growth in the human spirit is necessary, but when a living thing never stops to rest, that growth becomes something twisted and sinister, like cancer cells. Perpetual movement is unsustainable. The earth understands that to produce food, or flowers or even insects, there must be periods of dormancy, where silence is valued and energy is conserved. This is the time for us to rest too, so that we can clear our minds, still our bodies and remind ourselves who we are and what we value.

I say this as if I have mastered the art of rest. I haven't. It is quite possibly the biggest challenge I have, but I am working on it. And I understand that it is vital, not just because research tells me so, but because my favorite teacher shows me, again and again how to live a balanced life. Go outside and look at the earth in winter, and just follow the example. Rest. Pause. Sleep. It's OK. You have permission to do nothing.