I often question this strange calling of mine: writing about the Divine presence in music and artistic beauty which I encounter in my daily life. Since I don’t know who many of my readers are or what seeds are planted– I sometimes wonder if it makes a difference, or if it matters? But God knows and keeps calling me to continue– putting a tune in my head, poetry in my heart, an image in my mind’s eye, and words in my mouth.
“One step, one breath” is a mantra inspired by a dear friend and spiritual guide who accompanies me on my faith journey. She reminds me of a story she’s told countless times–about a United Methodist missionary named Virginia Law Shell.
On an especially dark night in the African village where Virginia serves, a night watchman comes to check on her.
He carries a very dimly lit lantern with him.
“It’s such a pathetic light on such a dark night,” she says with concern.
The watchman replies, “It shines as far as I can step.”
“One step, one breath” is an incredibly difficult life orientation because minds like to wander and worry (mine does anyhow). One step, one breath continually returns your focus to the present moment. Forget the past. Don’t worry about the future. Live in the now.
The now is a day for celebration! Today marks the one year anniversary for Meditations of a Modern Day Mystic on Substack! I continue to step forward and to breathe deeply of this God infused life. I am finding that this work does matter. I trust that God is working through these blogs and inviting you to tune your own interior frequency settings to receive divine encounter through music and art as well.
I appreciate the personal notes, reflections, and stories you share with me about your own creative encounters with God through the arts. I also offer a very sincere thank you to my “soul sisters” who supported me with financial gifts when I launched this blogging adventure as my new vocation and livelihood a year ago. It’s humbling to know that you believe in my writing this much! This still continues to be my only source of income so I welcome continued financial support.
Thanks be to God!
Reflection inspired by Ellie Goulding’s song Lights and Betsy Godbold.