Tag: nature

Face-to-Face

On By K.L. HaleIn Essay, nature, faith,32 Comments

This was written in November 2019 (pre-“C”) Flash forward 6 months and my thoughts are the same. For some the absence of face-to-face is satisfying. Others may crave it. Despite our differing views, one truth exists~we all communicate.


The glare of the screen will never replace the light of sun.  And viewing 1200-1800 pixels on a post will never replace the realness of real.   The silence is deafening and the air feels stale without words.

It was practiced during my day-looking someone directly in the eye.  Even nodding your head to confirm their thoughts.  Maybe a tilt of the head to display interest.  Even a smile to represent the humanness of the verbal exchange.  There would be a pause and that meant that the speaker is graciously giving the opportunity for a listener to respond-simply ingenious.

It seems now most heads are down.  Rarely will you hear a voice.  But you’ll hear a click or a ding.  It’s to notify.   Someone is living, someone died, someone is sharing a funny, someone is wondering what you’re doing. Milestones in life are celebrated on a screen.   These technology talks should bring us closer, so they say.  Yes, some celebrations of life last only the length of your battery.

I look up and around-and get out. It’s with nature I have the best dialogue.  The two of us prefer face-to-face.  Imagine a stare-down contest.  Nature always wins.  Sometimes I chit-chat with the leaves and squirrels.   The trees nod to show they understand me.  Clearly, they’re seen as they are and don’t hide from their reality.  They only know to exist in truth.  During parts of the year they’ll stand completely bare.  There will be no beautiful cover.  For they know glorious change is just around the corner.  

The wind embraces me, and sometimes sings a melody, when it’s time to hug goodbye. 

“It was great to see you!”

“And you as well.”

“Let’s meet again.”

“Yes, face-to-face!”

Have faith💚

Back to Basics

On By K.L. HaleIn Uncategorized16 Comments

How are you finding balance during these times? Life is shifting for many. For me, this last week also included a move back to my R.V. for a workkamping season. There’s comfort in my 300 sq. ft. quarantine of the campground. And for other reasons, I find my basics are met here.

Life is far from typical for everyone right now. Yet, some families are are fortunate to spend quality time with loved ones here at the campground. It’s an oasis of like-mindedness and good health (thank God for now anyway). We’re all united by at least one common fact~ NO ONE I’ve talked to has experienced anything like this in life. For some, I worry that the stress of the unknown might be worse than the virus. I take the guidelines very serious. In no way do I feel “immune” to the virus. Specifically, I have a compromised system that puts me in a higher risk category. But I refuse to have a “the sky is falling” attitude. Some will see only the negative in everything, some will see positive, some will be indifferent, some will be unrealistic, some will be healthy, some will become ill, and sadly, some have and will die. How are we meeting the basic needs of our fellow humans?

During these days~where more kids are home than in school, parents that typically work out of the home may be home, homeless might still be homeless, employed now unemployed, and no-risk occupations become high-risk with exposure~I have found comfort in the simple joys of life. You see, living in an R.V. for several years solidified my mantra of, “I don’t need much to survive.” Could we all agree that we probably have more than we need? And for some right now, the basics aren’t just being met.

Have you ever heard of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs? Abraham Maslow pegged this theory I learned in my college days. It guided me in teaching. And still resonates as time has proven these layers can overlap.

In my lifetime I’ve witnessed those that just live for work and success. And just the opposite, those that live only in a “spiritual” realm that may not focus on the bottom two tiers of this pyramid. No matter how you look at this pyramid (and how you live it), the bottom two tiers are levels that help us reach the top.

Social media can be a wonderful motivational tool that helps us FEEL that belongingness, love, friends, and humor are key to getting through these times. I don’t disagree with the many advantages of how it is helping so many. But hopefully, one will not spend so much seeking the top two pyramids to soothe the “ache” in the soul that the bottom two levels aren’t met (please do NOT USE THIS UPDATED PYRAMID😏)

I share all of this for this reason: How is your family? How is your neighbor? Friends, how are we helping others (and ourselves) meet the basic needs so that we can keep rising to our best selves?

For me, I’m having to truly limit my time watching the news and focusing on the things in which I have no control. I’ll remain diligent and smart in regards to the reality. And hopefully, we will all continue to have our basic needs met to rise to our best selves yet. May we continue to move ahead together and cement the blocks of faith that will keep our own homes on solid ground.

Have faith💚