God's love frees our earthly spirits to "be wild" with our own love; to be drunk on Mother Nature; to care for the suffering of others as well as our own. 

   We feel most isolated when we lose touch with the beauty around us. One way Nina, a dear friend & gifted caregiver stays in touch with Love is to walk each morning  through the woods. "My soul would suffer if I couldn't be in touch with nature," she says.

   As everyone knows, the moon does not create its own light. It reflects the sun's.

    Instead of trying to create our own light, we can angle our hearts toward God & reflect Love into the world. As caregivers, we can extinguish the fears of others with our love. As lovers, we can bless those we love & bless them again by receiving their love when it is offered.

   Self care matters most when bathe in Love's light.  Bitterness shatter's our heart's mirror. Love cannot shine into a resentful heart anymore than the sun can reach the dark side of the moon.    

   Some imagine we are the masters & nature is our servant, that it is our role to redeem nature from the wilderness. Nina knows that it is we who are redeemed by nature.

   Whenever caregivers travel the paths of nature or the hallways of museums or open their ears to great music, they refresh their souls. Cleansed of fatigue's toxins they can enter the rooms of the suffering bearing gifts of compassion & competence.

   Nature & art redeem our souls. Nina knows this. Her caregiving is a full & gorgeous moon that illuminates the hearts of all who see her. Because of her wild soul she, like you, is a "source of wonder" & a true Lover.

-Rev. Erie Chapman

Revised from a July 19, 2010 essay. Photograph by erie