Recently
the old rocking chair in my room with a wayward spring was replaced by a new
rocker. As I looked at different styles
I thought about the wooden rocker at my parent’s house, the glider in the
community room, even the rocking chairs while waiting to get into Cracker
Barrell. I thought about replacing the
old rocker with a different type of chair but came back again and again to the
wooden legs and rhythm of rocking back and forth.
Rocking
chairs have long been a refuge in my life through different homes and
circumstances. The soothing rhythm slows
my breathing and grounds me. Rocking chairs
remind me of conversations in the living rooms of friends or talking on porches
into the twilight hours. Rockers
provided seats of healing following surgery or recovery from illness.Since I’ve been working from home
due to the pandemic I often pray in the morning from my rocker, a hot cup of
coffee close at hand. It is where I
bring to God my gratitude, my searching and all which plays and sometimes
weighs heavy upon my heart. My prayer
recently is messy and often bears petitions and questions which are not quickly
resolved. Even in the mess, I rock and
I’m soothed, my trust reinforced that God is there listening and at work in
ways I cannot yet imagine.
We each need a space to go where we can find solace and grounding. That space often comes to represent something much bigger and broader than the physical space we dwell. It is where we meet God, ourselves and come to attempt to make sense of the wild, wonderful and often perplexing world in which we live. It is also a space where we connect with others through laughter, stories, and musings that weave into the conversation of friends. I am grateful for the many rocking chairs through the years which have provided solace and connection to others. I encourage you take a moment to visit or appreciate the seats of solace you find in your life which bring you grounding and connection. Blessings!
We each need a space to go where we can find solace and grounding. That space often comes to represent something much bigger and broader than the physical space we dwell. It is where we meet God, ourselves and come to attempt to make sense of the wild, wonderful and often perplexing world in which we live. It is also a space where we connect with others through laughter, stories, and musings that weave into the conversation of friends. I am grateful for the many rocking chairs through the years which have provided solace and connection to others. I encourage you take a moment to visit or appreciate the seats of solace you find in your life which bring you grounding and connection. Blessings!
Sr. Kimberly Porter, OSB
Love this Sister! Mine is sitting in my office with quite Jazz music playing in the background and just sitting back in my chair and closing my eyes. We all need that place that brings us the peace we each need, even if it is just for a few moments!!
ReplyDeleteDear Sister, thank you for sharing this beautiful writing. Back to the beginning, there was a rocking chair, happily swinging to the beat, the stars burst forth in flower, and the galaxies fled through space -- have I spent my whole life longing to be back there again, the world being created, how loved I was? God bless OSB Merry Christmas a little early.
ReplyDeleteThis is great, connect with this on all levels
ReplyDelete