One Good Word
This winter, my soul has been yearning for a connection with simplicity. A shift in my work schedule disrupted my routine, and a daily ritual that keeps me mentally and emotionally grounded became inconsistent. Rituals help me filter and process life's noise, which had grown so loud that I felt disconnected and out of touch. My inner world became chaotic, a stark contrast to the slow, steady rhythms of nature that usually align with my being.
Nature anchors you to what is real. On mornings when I venture outside, such as when the sun rose and the moon's light still lingered in the sky, I find solace. Donning my wool hat, winter coat, and worn slippers, I take my journal and seek the brightest spot in the garden to bask in light and inspiration. Standing there, my gaze drifts from the treetops to the brown anise hyssop flower heads, the evergreen germander, and the frost-kissed purplish nettle leaves.
I observed the anise-hyssop flower heads, once brimming with seeds, now emptied. The autumn and winter winds had scattered them from their perch to the ground. The decaying leaves pressed the seeds into the soil, their demise enriching the earth, setting the stage for new life to emerge in the spring.
The wisdom of creation enveloped me in a crescendo; its simplicity brought me to my knees, filling me with awe. The gratitude for the beauty was sustenance for my soul.
It's truly simple yet often overlooked. A single life-affirming experience with beauty of the Creator is like a slice of bread: it is satiating, therapeutic, and it has the power to heal our soul, body, relationships, health, home, sustenance, and the very earth we inhabit.
What is it that nourishes and sustains your soul?
-
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
