Last Friday, after we took Bea out for her celebratory last day of school lunch, I packed five books, two journals, two packs of pens, my computer, and my sneakers and drove up to the Abbey of St. Walberga close to the Wyoming border.
I was two hours into the drive when I realized I had forgotten my Bible. I had just gotten a new version and had been eagerly awaiting this weekend to start reading it. Somehow, it was left on the kitchen counter. Of all the retreats to forget a Bible on, this isn’t too terrible, as nearly every room in the Abbey has a copy.
After Vespers at dinner my first night, I was talking with a friend who also happened to be there for the weekend. (What are the chances?) My friend reminded me that the Desert Fathers likened nature to reading the Bible and said, Just go out and spend time in Genesis!
I had some loose goals and ideas for how I wanted to spend those 48 hours alone. I read a lot, attended the Offices, and napped. But I also remembered to “read Genesis.” My friend, who had lived at the Abbey for a few years as caretaker, took me to some of her favorite spots.
Looking at the trees growing out of rocks, listening to the streams and birds, and breathing in the wildflowers reminded me of what uncultivated earth is like. We talked about how being out in the wild landscape is like a glimpse of the New Earth, though such a pale shade of comparison.
I love the idea of catching glimpses of the Earth to come. Of getting out of my norms and seeing trees and grasses in new context. Even though we have wildflowers growing in our garden, actual wildflowers are so very different.
In the afternoon, I walked to the front of the property to hike the Stations of the Cross. The route winds up a hill and, at the top, a view of the Abbey, nestled in a valley of rock formations with the snow-covered Rocky Mountains in the distance stood below me. I saw the cultivated farmland of the Abbey but it seemed so small and orderly compared to the landscape surrounding it.
Looking down on this scene, I was reminded of my own orderly life. I work so hard to cultivate it and make it fruitful and I often see good results from the rhythms we have as a family. But I need to remember to get out of my order and go “read Genesis” in the wilderness.
I had been in a bit of a creative slump when I arrived and looked forward to resting. I brought my computer, just in case, but was hesitant to open it. Walking in nature, getting out of my routines, not talking for most of the day sparked that ember of creativity. I started seeing my adventures through the lens of storytelling and would come back to my room ready to write and connect what I had been seeing and learning.
Writers—and creatives in general—are often told to just “do the work” of creativity. That if you show up, the muse will meet you. I agree that the only way creativity happens is if I’m willing to show up and do the work.
But I’m also reminded that I need to rest. At this stage in parenting, rest is hard to find at our house. The girls are up and ready to go, regardless of the day of the week. We cook and eat and tidy and do bedtime every day without much variation. I needed to pause and physically get out of my routine.
I loved doing this at the Abbey where the balance of showing up to pray the Offices and go out for unstructured rambles could live hand-in-hand. (For me, not the nuns…) I wish there was a way to practically implement this idea into our daily routines.
Maybe there is. But if it doesn’t make sense, I’m also realizing that this is ok. Sometimes the only way to rest is to leave. The only way to “read Genesis” is to get out into new territory.
How do you break out of your norms? What ways do you “read Genesis” to experience the Bible in fresh ways? Does nature connect you with faith?
Annie Rim 
What a wonderful experience! I also find quiet time in nature inspires my writing. I have often told my students that “sitting and staring” is part of the poet’s work!!!
Yes! It was such a reminder to leave everything behind and fully experience nature. I loved closing my eyes and really hearing the birds and crickets, staring at the clouds, and letting time pass.
I have never heard reading Genesis described in this way and I LOVE it! To touch what it around you, smell the earth and feel the change in the air….what could be better than to learn through experience. It’s also making me long for a change in scenery, at least for a moment or two. Yes, nature definitely connects me with faith. But I’m afraid I’ve missed out on some of it lately with all the rain we’ve had. Lesson over 😉
I had never heard that before, either and it was literally life-changing! I hope I can incorporate that lesson into our everyday life…
I’m currently reading through Genesis. Some colleagues and I are reading through the Bible this summer.
I just got a new Bible and have loved reading Genesis with this new perspective!
Thank you. I really enjoyed reading your blog. I love vespers and being in nature so your words moved me.
Yes! Vespers was my favorite… Such a great way to pause before the evening.
Breaking out of the norm, for me, can be as simple as walking away from the computer and looking out of the window. I see so many beautiful sights when I stop and take time to enjoy. 🙂
I need to remember to break outside! Now that it’s summer, it’s easier but it’s still good to shake things up with nature!
We have a tendency to ignore our need for rest. Reading Genesis is a great reminder that God Himself showed us rest. Great post! God bless!
I know I do… Rest is something I do after everything is done. But, I’m learning rest is part of active participation in God’s rhythms.
Annie, this is a wonderful post. I smiled when you mentioned forgetting your Bible and the imagery you paint is beautiful. This really resonated with me. “Looking down on this scene, I was reminded of my own orderly life. I work so hard to cultivate it and make it fruitful and I often see good results from the rhythms we have as a family. But I need to remember to get out of my order and go “read Genesis” in the wilderness.”
Thank you! Letting go of order does not come easily! But I’m learning and God sends beautiful reminders…
Loved this, Annie! I am on the go too often, so this was really convicting to take time and “read Genesis.” Thank you!!
I’m glad! I’m learning to practice this in the midst of my daily routines, now.
I loved the idea that one way to read Genesis is by being in nature. I have always treasured being in nature and try every day to walk in the wooded trails in the community around our home. I love how the light filters through the huge cedar trees, the new growth spring up everywhere, the smell and quiet of the woods. I have always found rejuvenation in creation and now I have a phrase that describe it! Reading Genesis! Thanks Annie!
I can get so caught up in books and learning that I forget to experience God. That God showed up long before the Bible was written… I love it when God shakes up my norms.
I love reading the book of Genesis! So much good stuff in there. I have read it multiple times over the past year and it never fails to show me something new.
I just started rereading the Bible from the beginning and am loving the connections.
Hi Annie!
Yes, Genesis is a great place in the Bible. After reading this blog post one word stuck with me, and that word was hope. There’s something with the way you write, which signals hope and I enjoy that. You had many excellent points here, one of them was the idea of showing up as a premise for creativity. And your add about resting is essential to that process.
Busy mums can find inspiration in this blog post – great idea to take some time off as you describe here.
God bless,
Edna Davidsen
Thank you so much for your encouragement, Edna! I’m glad that hope is what stands out… I’m learning to lean into that.
You are welcome, Annie. It is always a pleasure to visit your blog.