Grounding

I made a quick trip up to Colorado Springs this week for the burial of my mother’s sister. My parents are not well enough to attend so I went to represent our section of the family and be with my cousins in this time of transition and honoring their mother. We went to the Air Force Academy surrounded by the mountains. The chapel wall was made of clear glass as we looked over the grave markers out into the sky and nature. It was a beautiful scene and a wonderful place to place Margaret’s ashes. My uncle Jim was a pilot in the Vietnam war and was shot down and lost his life. His mates located his body and brought it home to be buried at the Academy. Now Margaret and Jim are together again after all this time.

One of the things that I felt deeply in my soul was the grounding that being outside always does for me. When I hike or lay in a hammock, the sky and the trees calm my spirit. In every home where I have lived, I have positioned our bed where I can lay and look outside to the branches of a tree and sky. The feel of the breeze on my skin always reminds me of the spirit of God and the holiness of creation. I took two of my grandchildren hiking with me and showed them how to hug a tree. They thought it was funny and wonderful. Then I couldn’t get them to stop!

While I was in Colorado, a woman I met at the funeral mentioned the term “Grounding” to me as a coping skill. I had never heard of this term except in the electrical sense. She explained to me that it can be used as therapy or intense emotional management. She indicated that taking my shoes off and standing on the grass or other natural surface can, in effect, focus me on the present. As someone who has always found solace in being outside in the quiet of nature this spoke to me. I did a little research and discovered other things that I have done that are considered “grounding”. One of those is deep breathing to release stress and bring on calm.

According to Psycology Today, “Grounding techniques are strategies that can reconnect you with the present and may help you overcome anxious feelings, unwanted thoughts or memories, flashbacks, distressing emotions, or dissociation. You can try as many techniques as you want: The more you try, the higher the chance you’ll find at least one that works for you.” If you want to read about more techniques, you can go here. We live in a world that produces much emotion and anxiety. I have found things naturally along my path that I know still my soul and recenter me. But in case you have not, I hope that you will try some of the techniques suggested. I have never tried the 5-4-3-2-1 and I hope to do it soon.

This process of grounding reminded me of Paul’s letter to the Ephesians where he writes a prayer that says “I pray that, according to the riches of his glory, he may grant that you may be strengthened in your inner being with power through his Spirit, and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, as you are being rooted and grounded in love.” This scripture is perfect for this process of grounding that strengthens our inner being with with the Holy Spirit, and grounds us in love. It is perfect for who we are and how we try to live out our faith. I hope you will try some of these grounding techniques, reminded that you are filled with the spirit and grounded in the love of Jesus Christ. And that makes every day better!

I love you and God loves you,