One Good Word

This winter, I have found my soul in desperate need of connection with simplicity. My work schedule changed, affecting my routine, and an everyday ritual slipped into inconsistency- a ritual that keeps me mentally and emotionally grounded and helps filter and process the noises of life. The noise was getting so loud, I couldn’t hear myself and I felt out of touch. My inner world was feeling chaotic and high rather than my norm, which is more in line with nature's slow, sure, steady rhythms.

Nature keeps me grounded in what is true. I often find myself outdoors and one morning as the sun ascended, the light of the full moon and the sun united in the sky. I slipped on my wool hat, winter coat, and well-worn slippers. Journal in hand, I headed into the garden seeking the sunniest spot to absorb light and inspiration. As I stood soaking it all in, my eyes were drawn from the tree canopies down to the brown anise hyssop flower heads, evergreen germander, and purplish nettle leaves glistening in frost.

I noticed that anise-hyssop flower heads that had been full of seeds were now empty. The autumn-winter winds shook them from their nest onto the earth. The fallen leaves pushed the seed into the soil, the leaves' death nourishing the earth in preparation for new plant life to rise in the spring.

Creation's wisdom blanketed me with a crescendo of worship: its simplicity, and beauty brought me to my knees, as I was filled with wonder. I found nourishment for my soul without words on a screen, or second-hand words. I found one good word from the Creator to satisfy my soul.

It’s so simple. I tend to forget that. One life-giving word is bread: it is wise, medicinal, it draws us forward, and it can heal our soul, body, relationships, health, home, food and the land we live on.

What nourishes and feeds is your soul?

• Locally made artisan bread baked in a cast iron Dutch oven:

  Amish County has been a tourist destination because of the simple lifestyle of the Amish culture.
  
  However, when the industrial and technology swept through the community many of the Amish have become “Amish” in name only.
  
  While a portion of the community has been modernized. There is a subculture of artisans, trade-craftsmen and women, naturalists and regenerative organic farmers, who are connecting to a more hands on lifestyle.
  
  This bread was made by a local artisan who is not Amish. But he loves the practice of making rustic bread.
  
  Bread available at Colonial Homestead on SR 241, Millersburg Ohio