We need heat, but sometimes it becomes extreme. God created our bodies to have a way of cooling down by using sweat.
In my three haiku, heat and sweat seem to be opponents, but in reality both are important.
Heat and Sweat
Summer heat is strong
Warming skin ‘til sweat beads form
Dripping down my brow
Outdoors in the Sun
Heat can be intense
Working outdoors in the sun
Sweat comes as relief
Summer’s Breeze
Touched by summer’s breeze
Sweat soaked clothes now keep me cool
Heat has been thwarted
Sun and Wind and Rhythms of the Earth
The third haiku above portrays the cooled sweat defeating the sun’s heat. It reminds me of the Aesop’s fable about the argument between the North Wind and the Sun. In this story the sun is portrayed as the gentle one. If you’re curious about the story you can find it HERE.
Though the sun wins in that story, North Wind does have a place. Wind, rain, sun, heat and cold all play a part in the story of earth, the planet we call home. Some people prefer one season over another, but all have their purpose.
God created rhythms that would repeat day after day, month after month, year after year.
Spending so much time indoors with windows closed, electricity buzzing, lights that keep us up late at night, we have lost touch with the rhythms of the earth. Somehow I think if we could recover some of that and allow our bodies to relax and slow down, maybe our lives would take on new meaning and purpose.
Relaxing Outdoors
Last Friday was warm and sunny so I decided to go outside for awhile. Sitting on the grassy hillside I felt a connection to the earth. No electronics, just grass and dirt, sunshine and breeze, all natural and real. (I did have my cell phone but only to take pictures.) Grounding my body in this way helps me to relax and let go of some tension.
I’ve kept myself inside for far too long compared to the time spent outdoors.
I need to find a balance. The time outside refreshes my outlook. I bask in the sun while listening to the sounds. Somewhere in the woods I hear a crow, but the other birds must be taking a nap. Or maybe I’m not listening intently enough.
Sitting out there I’m able to take my mind off some of the demands and enjoy being still. It’s a good feeling. My cat also enjoyed the extra attention and tried to interrupt my writing. She finally settled down to rest close to me.
Our Lord created a perfect world for us to inhabit. Beauty thrives even though parts of it are spoiled. Seasons come and go. I look forward to the changes each season brings, for all have a purpose.
I thank God for all kinds of weather and for the change of seasons.
Genesis 1:14,15
And God said, “Let there be lights in the vault of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark sacred times, and days and years, and let them be lights in the vault of the sky to give light on the earth.” And it was so.
I’m participating in the #weeklyhaikuchallenge at #ronovanwrites where Sweat & Heat are the prompt words. You can find all the details at the link above and are welcome to join in.
Beautiful thoughts Gayl. I admire your haiku writing. I have not done that since elementary school.
Your description of life’s rhythms and how you are working to capture them is a good reminder to me that God created those just for us. Slowing down in between is exactly how he wired us to be.
Thank you so much for your kind words, Mary!
Yes, He did create them for us and knows what we need in each season. I know I am better all around if I take time to slow down and rest.
Blessings to you!
Dear Gayl, I love your Haiku this week! They make me long for those days when I was able to work up a sweat outdoors. But then your thoughts further in, “The time outside refreshes my outlook. I bask in the sun while listening to the sounds” remind me that any time spent outside in God’s Creation is given to us for a blessing and refreshing. Thank you for sharing your beautiful outlook with us! –Blessings to you my dear poet/sister/friend! 🙂 xoxo
Dear Bettie,
Thank you for your thoughtful comments. It is true that any time spent outside can help to refresh us and change our outlook. I want to remember to take advantage of it more often.
Many blessings to you, too, my dear poet/sister/friend! Hugs!! xo
I love these thoughts about keeping in rhythm with the earth, Gayl. I’m so glad you could get outdoors and bask in the sun! I basically hibernate in the winter months because of lung disease and the effects of the cold on me. I do love the pure whiteness of the snow though from inside, but I long for the spring when I can actually be in nature. It’s so refreshing to the spirit, isn’t it? This afternoon is supposed to be warmer, so my hubby and I are going to check out a park where there are plenty of trees. We’re hoping we will see our first robin this year. A herald of the spring. 🙂 That’s always an excitement for us. Our daughter already saw one!
I love your haikus and enjoy reading what you come up with each week. Sweat truly is a relief. I knew someone who couldn’t, and he was miserable in the heat. I’m so thankful I can sweat. Love and hugs to you!
When we lived up north I didn’t get much time outside in the winter, either. It was just too cold or icy or snowy. Once in awhile there would be a warmer day, though. Here in SC the temperature can change so quickly. One day it will be 80 and the next day 60. Right now we are having pretty mild days and I love it!
Did you get to see your robin? I hope so and I hope you were refreshed from your visit to the park.
I’m so glad you enjoy my haiku. Thank you so much for your encouragement. Yes, I am thankful for sweat, too, or I’m sure I’d be miserable in the heat, too.
Many blessings to you! Love and hugs! xo
No, we didn’t see a robin. 🙁 Hopefully soon! I still am grateful though that it was warm enough to walk on the trail next to the river. It was so good to do that again! I’m glad you’re having mild days to sit out and enjoy the sun. 🙂
Sorry you didn’t see the robin. Maybe next time. 🙂
We have had such a crazy winter this year after pretty much no winter the last two years. It has reminded me the importance of seasons. It also makes me enjoy the days of sun more than when everyday was sunny. 🙂
Yes, sometimes the weather does seem crazy, doesn’t it? I know we had a lot of cloudy days in a row, I really appreciated the days of sunshine that came afterwards.
Thanks for visiting, Amanda! Blessings to you!
do you not think that God created creatures that do not sweat, as implied in my contribution to this weeks haiku? God is to all, we humans are the only ones to express his glory in words.
Bob, I loved your haiku! Thanks for visiting here. I guess I was just thinking about how we humans respond to the heat. Yes, God is to all, and I’m thankful I can express in words his glory. You know, I’ll bet the animals have their own ways of expressing his glory.
Blessings to you!
My favorite place to be is OUTSIDE! 🙂 Ever since I was a little girl. My mom said when I was walking to the bus stop with the neighbor kids, she would notice the others engrossed in conversation and I was always looking up at the clouds and the sky. One childhood memory of mine, I was laying on my sled on the snow-packed ground, feeling the warm sunshine on my face as it filtered through the pine tree above. I loved listening to the sound the pine tree made when the wind blew through. I was excited about the hyacinth bulb my dad got me that would be growing into a beautiful flower soon.
I had an ahh haa! moment when I read your statement that, “Spending so much time indoors with windows closed, electricity buzzing, lights that keep us up late at night, we have lost touch with the rhythms of the earth. Somehow I think if we could recover some of that and allow our bodies to relax and slow down, maybe our lives would take on new meaning and purpose.” You are so right!
I know I have lost some of the peace I feel outdoors because there are indeed too many electronic distractions. Thanks for the wake-up call. 🙂
Karen, I think we are kindred spirits. I loved being outside when I was a child. I loved it just before a rain when the sky would darken, the wind would blow harder and harder. I would stay out as long as I could before being called inside. Thanks for sharing your memories. 🙂
As far as the wake up call, it’s for me, too. I have to keep reminding myself to take breaks to spend time outside. I know I would have more peace by spending less time at social media and more time outside.
Blessings to you, Karen!
Love the simplicity of your haikus. I love spending time outside too. I’m also a person who loves having all four seasons.
Thanks, Tara! I do love the different seasons. Growing up in FL we didn’t see much change, but I’ve experience SD, NH and NJ and now SC which does still have the seasons, just not as much snow. 🙂
Blessings to you! xo
I’m not a fan of hot- it leaves me irritable – I remember hot days with no air-conditioning – and hot nights with only a window fan to bring relief – but there is something stabilizing, peace inducing about being outside, feeling the window, the sun, listening to God’s creation all around! We haven’t had our snow yet- and I’m reluctant to let go of my snow hope – but there’s a part of me that cannot wait to get back outside!
I remember those hot days without air conditioning, too. I’m not a fan of hot either. When the weather is warm but not hot, sunny and breezy I love to be outside! Yes, there is definitely something peace inducing about it. 🙂
Thanks for stopping by. Blessings to you!
Such a beautiful time you had outdoors! I agree with you, my friend. We could all benefit from getting out in God’s nature more often. I always feel so close to Him when I make the effort to meet Him there. May He bless you always!
Yes, it was a beautiful time, Cheryl. Thanks so much for stopping by.
Blessings to you!
It is in the 70’s here today, so spent time at the neighborhood playground. I love these breaks in the winter where God sees us and says, “here is relief. I love you.”
We have been having crazy weather – 70’s one day, next day 50’s…. I’m glad you got some time outdoors, and I love how you recognize the gifts God gives even in the winter breaks. Yes, He loves us so much.
Thank you so much for visiting, Sarah. I don’t know why but I just found your comment this morning. WordPress had it in spam, though I don’t know why.
Blessings to you! Have a great weekend!
Thanks for the poetry and other thoughts!
You’re welcome, Lizl, and thanks so much for stopping by and leaving an encouraging comment.
Blessings to you!
I definitely experience a lot of heat and sweat living in Arizona. 🙂 Thanks for linking up at Literacy Musing Mondays!
Yes, I’m sure. I grew up in FL so I’m also very familiar with heat and sweat! Thanks for being a host at the #LMMLinkup! Blessings to you!
Hello Gayl! I love the change in seasons too. There’s something special about each season. Your trio of haiku are beautiful and I love the sequence they’re in. Brilliant!
Thank you for your encouragement, Vashti! I appreciate your comments. Sorry to be so long in replying. We were on vacation and I didn’t have my computer. It’s hard to comment using my phone. 🙂
Blessings to you! Thanks so much for stopping by!
I love this paragraph especially: Spending so much time indoors with windows closed, electricity buzzing, lights that keep us up late at night, we have lost touch with the rhythms of the earth. Somehow I think if we could recover some of that and allow our bodies to relax and slow down, maybe our lives would take on new meaning and purpose.
This is great, Gayl. Thanks for linking up friend!
Thank you, Meghan! I’m sorry to be so long in replying. We were out of town and I didn’t have my computer. I could use my phone but prefer not to, because it’s so much easier with the computer.
I’m still working on learning to slow down and spend more time outside for fresh air and relaxation.
Blessings to you and thanks for hosting the linkup! 🙂 xo