229. So, like a forgotten fire, a childhood can always flare up again within us. ~Gaston Bachelard

by

11

To speak truly, few adult persons can see nature.
Most persons do not see the sun.
At least they have a very superficial way of seeing.
The sun illuminates only the eye of the man
but shines into the eye and heart of the child.
The lover of nature is he whose inward and outward senses
are still truly adjusted to each other;
who has retained the spirit of infancy even into the era of manhood.
~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Image

God sometimes reaches out at the most unexpected times to capture our hearts and attention, and not infrequently does He do that by using one of Creation’s eye-catching spectacles.  When a moment like that happens, it’s much like when a lover surprises his beloved by pulling a handful of flowers from behind his back.   And every time I’m delighted by the Holy One in such a way, I fall in love with Him all over again.  A friend of mine recently shared a moment like that with me, and as I read her description, I realized that understanding God’s parables can occur when the innocence of childhood floats up back up in our present realities.

On this cool, crisp morning, I arose before the sun and
went out my front door to look for the newspaper.
But that’s not what caused me to stop in my driveway, paper forgotten.
Overhead, Ursa Major and other stars twinkled brightly,
framed only by a few thin, wind-shaped clouds.
And at a time of the year when children take center stage,
I thought of the innocence in all of us.
For it was not my intellect that held me spellbound
but my own innocence, untarnished by age.
In that moment, caught by the wonder of nature,
blessed with its beauty, I felt magical.
~Emily Seate

Who is this that appears like the dawn, fair as the moon, bright as the sun, majestic as the stars in procession?  ~Song of Solomon 6:10  ✝

11 thoughts on “229. So, like a forgotten fire, a childhood can always flare up again within us. ~Gaston Bachelard”

  1. Pingback: 228. So, like a forgotten fire, a childhood can always flare up again within us. ~Gaston Bachelard | Sacred Touches

    • Oh Emerson is one of my favorites, Annette. We had to read quite a bit of his works when I was in school and that’s when my appreciation for him started. We did have a very nice Christmas. I hope yours went well too. Enjoy your weekend. Blessings, Natalie 🙂

      Like

      Reply

  5. Lovely and insightful quote from Emerson… God is such a loving father, his amazing creation can and does reignite the child within. There’s nothing like His sun to coax a smile. Have a wonderful weekend, Natalie.

    Like

    Reply

Leave a comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.