John Eldredge-ing

It’s the name my son & I have given to the practice of purposely & intentionally baring oneself to the elements of Nature to connect on a deeper level with God, renew weariness sometimes, and savor beauty; for us, here’s how it’s looked so far……it’s putting ourselves into colder temperatures, into snow, to dipping our hands in an ice cold river, lake or ocean water; it can look like riding in the car with the window down blowing in your face or stepping outside on a break from work & taking some deep breaths or taking a quick, brisk walk at lunch and can be standing in the ocean or a cold swimming pool for a few minutes, purposely being out in the elements to experience the rawness of something that interrupts our day in an impactful way. Just experience it, just immerse yourself in it, even briefly; there are such benefits, like a reset. You’ll find yourself missing it when you don’t do it and seeking it out. It changes everything for us as we’ve learned to do this the past 3 years. We spend enough time indoors in this life, with unnatural lighting & sometimes no windows in places or no fresh aire…….it just feels wonderful to blast ourselves with raw, delightful elements of Nature and feel reconnected in an immediate way. And feel more alive.

I highly recommend John Eldredge books, and he suggests in one of them that finding out what feeds your own soul or challenges you to experience the beauty & wonder of Life a bit more each day, is a very valuable, purposeful choice that can reconnect us with our own soul, our Creator, make us feel more alive, rejuvenate us, and make a big difference in our interface with the world.

I have also found in my own life that beautiful photography or a song that resonates deeply with me is also in my John Eldredge-ing practice; a bit gentler, but equally beneficial.

The possibilities are endless, seek yours out & give it a try. I do not think you’ll be disappointed!!