We are still at our friends' home in Santa Barbara, California marveling at the different vistas of creation--the Santa Ynez mountains, the Los Padres National Park and the endless Pacific. Have you visited friends or family in distant places? North Carolina has mountains and sea, cities, college towns and villages. It is my favorite state--home.
But different ecosystems are a wonder to see. Here we have sage brush, sea lavender and the iconic ice plant all protecting the cliffs from erosion. The fig and eucalyptus trees--the latter the tallest known flowering tree on earth--are abundant. Also the jacaranda with their purple blooms in May.
This is different than visiting a city. No skyscrapers or even tall buildings as this land is earthquake prone. Fires a present danger too. Maybe you have lived in California and know more than I. I am awed by the shoreline and cliffs, mountains and sky. The people too, all friendly and dog lovers, as am I. Without a pup now, I covet the animals we see being walked along the shoreline or off-leash on a designated beach.
The other thing we love is visiting other churches. Here we attend an Episcopalian church. We can see the spire from the window of our friends' home, which is on a hill. I light candles in our home church and in churches where we visit. I have done this for over 30 years, wherever we find ourselves. It is good to be with people who worship the same God. It is good to be with people like Californians, who work so hard to protect their immigrant population. My first NO KINGS day was here.
Our friend whose house this is, is bilingual and coordinates a community carpool to take immigrants to doctor's and other appointments. Her husband, a pastor, has served churches in vacancy. Like Durham, North Carolina, this is a good place.
Since 2017 I have been posting in my mother's name, Nina Naomi, in this blog titled "Diary of a Mindful Nature Lover." With Mother's Day next weekend and house-sitting in a spot where mindfulness faces not a single obstacle and nature is wild and abundant, I feel grateful and calm. I hope you do too. We, you and I, are not replicating each other's experiences. I am usually at home with the chores an old house brings and the stresses of age. You may be home with chores, job and family. But we share the need for time outdoors, time with trees and garden, time for possibly prayer and reflection and perhaps to light a candle, if only for ourselves.
So wherever we are, let's take care. Of ourselves, each other and God's creation. And if you are inclined to share your reflections on this post, please do. I would love to hear from you. Nina Naomi
