Today’s “Ride to Church” comes to us from Stephanie Durden Edwards of Missouri. Stephanie writes:
;
My Sundays used to look and feel a whole lot different than they do now. Rushing around to have lesson materials ready, wrestling toddlers into dress shoes and tights, hoping that the crockpot was turned on so that dinner would be ready once we finally returned home after several hours in the car, sitting through hours of classes, followed by more meetings after Church.
These days, Sundays operate at a completely different speed. There are some things I miss, certain familiar trappings that will forever be a part of who I am.
But on the days when I want to feel closest to God, I find myself walking through nature, gazing through forest canopy into clear blue skies. Here my questions and wonderings about the nature of God matter little. Here I feel peace, tranquility, and a reverent quiet separate from the rest of the world.
This is Cave Hollow Park in central Missouri.
![img_0004](https://dovesandserpents.org/wp-content/gallery/stephanie-missouri_1/img_0004.jpg "Hitting the path, I always think of the Frost poem: \\"Two roads diverged in a wood, and I-I took the one less traveled by. And that has made all the difference.\\"")
;
Great post. Congratulations on finding a place of worshp that renews you spiritually!
So peaceful. Thanks for sharing!
Wow, that looks amazing.
It is funny, Sundays have become a unique day for me. A day for connecting with friends over brunch — something I never had time to do before. Or a day for accomplishing something I’ve been wanting to, like preparing a care package for a loved one.
I find that I don’t have to nap anymore on Sundays, because there is less rush, less social stress from church and just more serenity. I do need to find a place to “connect” though.
Thank you for the kind words. I do find a lot of peace on this trail. Some weeks when I do not make it to Cave Hollow, I take a walk down the country road we live on. Last week my daughter and I were walking (the weather was surprisingly cool) and we happened upon a white tailed doe, just feet from where we stood. She didn’t move for a long time; all was quiet. I love moments like this, with no words spoken. Just peace.