The past several Sundays at Marsh Chapel, Dean Hill has been encouraging us to take time to stroll along the seashore, to discover ourselves both lost and found at the waters edge. On Thursday night, the urge to explore and to connect to the beauty and mystery of the earth struck my friends and I. After dinner, leaving homework and meetings behind, we set out for the esplanade. We walked in the starry darkness until we reached one of the floating docks. We stood together quietly soaking in the peacefulness of the evening skyline.
We laid down on the dock together and watched the sky and the lovely skyline of our new city. As we laid together, we began to talk about the way the city looked from our dockside vantage point. Boston seemed so busy and full of life. The streets never ceased to flow with cars and the buildings shown with the lights of people living and working. It seemed so important for us to sit apart from the hum of the city, watching as the world kept going without us.
It was incredibly humbling to be reminded that we are not the center of the universe, to see ourselves apart from the action of life. And even more than humbling, how regenerating? For me it is necessary to take a break from the madness of studying for midterms and trying to be involved in clubs, to just sit with my friends apart from the rush of the world and breathe. As this year continues, I intend to make time regularly to step away from my responsibilities and the stresses in my life to reconnect with the earth.