I awakened early and felt an urge to go for a pre-dawn walk that morning of June 14, 1995, to one of my favourite Calgary nature areas—Weaselhead. It was a thickly-treed area that I so enjoyed hiking every so often. The sky was clouded over and there was a possibility of rain, so I wore my raincoat.
As I began my walk, I breathed in the fresh earthy fragrance and absorbed the idyllic atmosphere of trees whose leaves had recently burst into their green June fullness.
Raindrops began to fall. Softly they landed on tree leaves—music to my ears. I pulled my jacket hood over my head and heard the gentle drops.
Just then a least flycatcher with his characteristic "che-bek" began to sing beside my pathway. He was hidden among the tree leaves and I had to carefully search to spot this tiny brown bird, smaller than even a house wren (photo and song here).
Something about that beautiful moment inspired such great awe that I couldn't express my feelings. Eventually I discovered that the Psalms would give me words for what I could not say. I especially loved Psalm 104, savoring the eloquent word choices and imagery. The beauty and grandeur of God almost took my breath away.
(NOTE: A beauty excursion can also be to other places—an art gallery of majestic paintings, a museum, a bookstore where you find a gem, a Christmas craft sale where you discover beautiful wood carvings…)
The question is: How can we capture beauty in our writing through nature “awe walks” or other beauty excursions? Writing can deepen our experience as we take photos, journal, write a poem, compose a song, or add to an article. Here are several angles:
- Engaging our senses sharpens our attention and “thickens” our writing, to use Carol Shields’ concept. Writing the scene as fully as possible makes a good story that captivates our readers’ attention and imagination.
- Including metaphors and unique verbs improves the variety and quality of our sentences and makes our writing sing.
- Marvelling on the wonder gives us an emotional boost. Psychologists say that wonder, joy, beauty, and awe bring down such things as anxiety, depression, stress, anger, and fatigue while increasing restorative effects such as vitality, vigor, and positive emotions. As we give ourselves a moment to feel joy and calm or excitement and amazement, we can attempt to write our emotional responses in these transcendent moments.
- Giving time to write of our gratitude and worship our Creator God is a necessary component. As we delight in our Lord, the beauty of nature and of our relationship with Jesus flourishes in our lives and writing. Doing so enables us to discover a spiritual meaning, a universal truth that our readers can relate to. William Blake wrote an eloquent poem on discovering the universal truth when he wrote:
The author Harold Best advised: “Remember that God makes things beautiful from the inside out…elegant …Join up with the mind of the One in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”[i]
As we write to engage beauty, our lives can have a great impact. I’m reminded of someone who said that the testimony of a survivor of Cambodia’s Killing Fields was “something beautiful for God.”
God is developing us into a beautiful work of art and faith. A faith that fuels trust and hope. Pay attention to how you experience God’s presence and tell how beautifully He is working in your life.
[i] Michael Card, (Scribbling in the Sand, Downers Grove, IL, IVP, 2002), 123-124.
Top Image by Pixabay
Your post, beginning with a personal experience of beauty in nature and moving to suggestions on how to express that beauty in writing, is full of both inspiration and education. I like the idea of "awe walks," of "walking in nature with the intention of tapping into something that brings a sense of wonder." So often the grandeur or the minutiae of creation turns my own heart to our God. I long to convey that sense of wonder in my writing as you've done so eloquently here, Sandi. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteThanks for you comment, Lorrie. Yes, I agree with you that, "So often the grandeur or the minutiae of creation turns my own heart to our God." The Lord has been reminding me over and over to pay attention to creation, people, and things in our lives, and then as writers, to convey the beauty of those moments.
DeleteThank you, Sandi, for taking us along on your "awe walk," and thus encouraging us, your readers, to take time and thought to absorb and express thanks and appreciation for the wonder that God has planted for us. "Oh, the wonder of it all. just to think that God loves us this much.
ReplyDeleteSharon Espeseth
Thanks, Sharon. I agree with you that the greater wonder is that God loves us. Unconditionally.
DeleteThanks for this wonderful post, Sandi. I had never heard the term ‘awe walk.’ How fitting. The voice of the least flycatcher is a familiar one and I love the poem by William Blake. Such a great deal of profound wisdom and power in those few lines. A lovely and meaningful post. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteThanks Sharon, for faithfully responding to our blog posts. As I read your comments, I thought, Aha! You're another bird watcher!
DeleteThank you so much Sandi, for this encouraging post. What a beautiful reflection. I love the idea of an “awe walk”... going outside not just to walk, but to notice, listen, etc. Your description of the rain, the trees, and the hidden little bird made the moment feel very real. LOVE it
ReplyDeleteThanks, Aritha, for responding. I notice and enjoy your FB posts that you, too, are a nature lover.
DeleteThank you for this glimpse into an "awe walk," Sandi. Such "beauty excursions," like a walk in nature, are a definite highlight for me and provide inspiration for my writing. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Alan. I notice from some of your writing that you do enjoy the outdoors and find walking in nature a highlight. These moments are always great incentives to transfer the beauty into our writing.
DeleteThank you, Sandi. I was blessed by your post when I first read it a couple of mornings ago, but I didn't have time then to express my thanks. I especially love your description of your walk in Weaselhead as it gives me the chance to take the same walk in my imagination.
ReplyDeleteThank you also for your final exhortation: Pay attention to how you experience God’s presence and tell how beautifully He is working in your life.
Blessings.
Thanks for sharing your takeaways, Michelle. God really is working beautifully in our lives!
Delete"Psychologists say that wonder, joy, beauty, and awe bring down such things as anxiety, depression, stress, anger, and fatigue while increasing restorative effects such as vitality, vigor, and positive emotions." I am certainly experiencing stress and fatigue through my caregiving journey. As often as weather and time permit, I do enjoy a good walk in nature - an awe walk, as you call it. The fresh air in my lungs helps to clear my head and the beauty of trees, flowers, ponds, and God's creatures give light to my eyes and heart. Thank you for your post.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing, Susan. Caregiving can drain us, and a walk in nature helps restore God's refreshment to us. I pray God will refresh you daily!
DeleteThank you for your prayers, Sandi!
DeleteI'll continue praying, Susan!
Delete💗
DeleteAwe walks and beauty excursions are real gifts of refreshment and are great for topping up our creativity wells. I tend to come back from such ventures inspired and ready to tackle projects and dream up new writing plans. Thank you, Sandi, for a lovely post.
ReplyDelete