Choosing Rivers Over Phones

On the way to Estes Park, Colorado for a friend’s wedding yesterday, I found myself snaking down a steep pass next to a clear, swift river, tumbling its way toward the plains. Flanked by evergreens and shimmery gold aspens, I watched the water slip over 1000 pound boulders and recalled the grinding and thunking sound they make when the big water comes and pushes them downriver too.

I’m a Leo, the fire sign. My work is defined by fire. Perhaps that’s why I need rivers so much.

I love rivers because everything is going somewhere, and every moment is fresh and new. This river’s swiftness created its own breeze full of negatively charged ions, which is good for calming the mind - something I nearly always need.

There’s a practice I advocate in my courses called forest-bathing. It’s a Japanese tradition but certainly, humans have been doing it forever. It’s the simple practice of walking through the forest slowly and observing without commentary or judgment. Rich in oxygen, silence, and perhaps bird song, the forest does something essential for the human nervous system. Rivers do too.

But for me, it’s more than that. This river, these trees, they remind me to look up.

For ever since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through His workmanship [all His creation, the wonderful things that He has made], so that they [who fail to believe and trust in Him] are without excuse and without defense. Romans 1:20 AMP

Jesus and I had a long talk by the river. Afterward, as I walked back to my car, I realized the whole time I was there, my mind was still, having been wrestled to the ground by the enormity of God’s creation. For the one-millionth time, I realized that I’m better, healthier, less anxious about life when I’m in nature and still.

So, at home, why do I insist on running around unconscious, rattled and harried, or worse, dead still staring at my phone?

About a month ago, I decided to set my phone down and use that time to get into places like this - either physically or mentally through meditation.

I’m not perfect, I’m still addicted to the noise, but I’m here to tell you, it works so so much better.

Monkey mind is the enemy’s playground, AND I realize that my phone addiction just feeds it. But when I choose differently and wait in a high holy place, I feel like myself again.

Set your phone down. Get still. Forest bathe a minute. I promise it’s worth the effort.