The Art of Solivagant

The word solivagant means a solitary wanderer, and I believe that is what the Holy Spirit was asking of me. He wanted me to wander through His creation without any distractions.

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As I poured another cup of tea, my mind wandered to an article I read in Darling Magazine that left me a bit unsettled. By definition, I am a visual artist, which means I am optically stimulated, and if I did not know the Author of all Creation, I would probably stop short and just worship beauty.

It seems as if I can’t escape the digital realm sometimes; with one click, I am transported to a little cottage in Ireland or immersed in a snapshot of a festive meal. While this is a wondrous thing, along the way, I forget to move my gaze back to what was right in front of me.

Suddenly, after coming to this realization, it was as if my legs had a mind of their own, and I bolted out the back door. With a silent disposition, I let the flora and fauna greet me with a soft embrace.

All I heard was silence at first, but slowly, it was as if I was witnessing the world come to life. Birds started chirping their melodies, crickets sang like a quartet, butterflies darted by as if annoyed that I was in their way, and even the flowers seemed to have a technicolor glow about them as I encountered their scents.

“For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made…”  Romans 1:20 

The word solivagant means a solitary wanderer, and I believe that is what the Holy Spirit was asking of me. He wanted me to wander through His creation without any distractions. I let the humming of bees and the swish of grass be the song and my response of amazement be the lyrics. The intentionality of walking through nature as if it were an art exhibition with the thought, “God I’m here to marvel at your craftsmanship,” changed my perception of my surroundings.

After reflecting on what I experienced, I asked myself these questions:

How can we stay immersed in the tangibleness of God’s handiwork?

My suggestion is simple: go outside for a minute or two. Breathe in the fresh air, watch the leaves rustle in the breeze, and thank God that you’re alive to witness His masterpiece.

Is the internet my enemy?

The short answer: NO! I adore connecting with individuals who I would have no other way of ever knowing; I get to be inspired by things online and experience the power of storytelling through a single image. But we cannot rely solely on a screen to give us nourishment.

What does this mean for the future?

I will live in the now, and I encourage you to do the same.

 

Written by Gloria Biggers

 

 

Featured Image by Annie Spratt

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