In today’s electronic world, although we constantly make connections through the internet (email, Facebook, websites, etc) and even through the phone (voice calls and texting) we are actually disconnected from the world. What do I mean by that? We are shut away in our homes, offices or cars….we are unaware of the world around us. Sure, we have information about what is occurring (tsunamis, Charlie Sheen meltdowns, and the like). Yesterday was a lovely spring day in Arizona. After I mopped my floors, I opened my windows and sliding door. The breezes blew through the screens, delighting my kitten, my cat, and my dog. The animals stretched out by the windows and doors, enjoying the breeze.
As I researched on my computer, and wrote a rough draft of some teaching plans, I felt the breeze and saw the dappled sunlight on the trees and planters in my yard. Before long I could hear a multitude of birds chirping in the yard and trees. I suddenly realized that I had been shut away from God’s lovely outdoor world for months. I thought to myself’ “Why haven’t I opened my windows?” It is lovely to hear the birds. I truly felt my stress level drop, and my “Ah…!” level increase.
My ideas flowed, and happy thoughts filled my heart and soul. The sunshine often gives me a lift, but oh my, the birds chirping made me want to burst into song as well. No wonder God wants us to rejoice always. The Psalms are filled with imagery in nature. …Have you ever noticed how good you feel as you walk through a park or a forest? Being in the city sometimes makes us forget the beauty of nature. We just get so busy with our day-to-day lives that we forget to REALLY SEE the world. I live in the far suburbs of Phoenix. Yet in almost every direction from my home I can see mountains. A month and a half ago, some of the mountains had snow on them. People who live in the north may not feel joy at seeing snow at this point in this very snowy year. However, it did delight my heart to see the snow on the mountains.
Today I am so thankful that my son and husband are both home. It is nice to reconnect on the weekend with less rushing about. Our things to do list is a million items long, it seems. Yet, we are easing into the day and may only get a few things done. Even so, it is lovely to connect. God is good; all the time.
Believe Anyway 
I loved your post. It made me think about how we also are very good at skimming information or text online or in a book. Also to get that Ahhh moment we need to almost waste time in a sense to get to that special place where we start getting rewarded and save time. People are very good at pretending to be happy. I say we need to actually be happy. No matter how conected to our psyche and human characteristics we are God is still ultimateley in control. The longest journey a man takes in life is the one from his brain to his heart.
You are so right—and we need to trust God’s control rather than fight it. Thanks for your comments—brilliant!