This time of year takes me to a portion of a poem by George MacDonald in Diary of an Old Soul. “I thought that I had lost thee but behold thou comest to me from the horizon low across the field outspread of green and gold fair carpet for thy feet to come and go.” The poems in Diary of an Old Soul offer soothing and sometimes provoking reflections on MacDonald’s relationship with God.
As we read the poems sometimes they become autobiographical of our own relationship with the divine, sometimes soothing, other times prodding and pushing us to be better. The poem I quoted describes God’s gentle approach across the vistas of nature. And I am quite sure that you are much like me and have been experiencing the approach of the Spirit when you gaze upon the wondrous colors this autumn. The beauty we are witnessing is inspiring and it has all the colors of assurance. Walking the woodland trails now you often are treading on a fair carpet of gold. And of course when you lift your eyes to the canopy, reds, yellows, burgundy and gold create the sanctuary where God touches you. And even though I have seen this each year of my life I am ever amazed that all those green leaves of summer had such stunning color to share today. What happens for me is that words of liturgy and hymns echo in my mind, “Praise God from whom all blessings flow.”
On Sunday mornings when I arrive at church to help set up for our outdoor worship service my attention is often captured by the ridgeline behind Grand Marais. We are so blessed with beauty. And each time I see it another poem always comes to mind, a Biblical one. The author an unnamed songwriter of Israel gave us a poem of assurance that God is with us. Psalm 121 begins “I lift up my eyes unto the hills from whence cometh my help.” Although I am quite sure the author was not looking at an autumn display of color such as we do when we look at the Sawtooth Mountains and the beautiful ridge, just the mention of lifting up our eyes takes me to the hills surrounding Grand Marais. And so this has become for me a spiritual practice not just on Sunday, but Monday through Saturday as well. I find I can face the hills, lift up my eyes and behold the beauty of God in ever changing hues and variations. And it is not just at this time of year; it is 365 days of God with us.
I hear in MacDonald’s poem and from the Hebrew poet deep assurance that God is with us. God is with you. Sometimes that truth needs to interrupt our thoughts when somehow we believe we have “lost thee.” Perhaps all the beauty that has been surrounding us can do that for you as well, and convince you as MacDonald writes “but behold thou comest.” The truth is, we can’t lose God. Lift up your eyes to the hills, God is with you.
Each month a member of the Cook County Ministerium will offer Spiritual Reflections. This month our contributor is Reverend Mark Ditmanson of Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Grand Marais.
Leave a Reply