Spirituality of Skiing
Guest Writer: Jane Newman
“God’s in His heaven,
All’s right with the world!”—Robert Browning, “Pippa’s Song.”
Joanna speaks frequently of God’s gifts of the outdoors. She compares “prayer to a river, strong, clean, swift,” or “the feeling of God’s presence when we are outside.” Recently she asked us to “seek sanctuary in a sacred place where our souls can be renewed.”
During this time of year, my sacred place is on the ski slopes of Colorado. My husband Ron, who died on October 22, 2019, was a superb skier. We both cherished our time on the slopes together. My style was much slower than his. He was fast and graceful. His movement down the slope was as if he were dancing with the snow. It was difficult for me to return skiing without my partner of 49 years (22 years in Colorado).
I knew I had to ski to honor his memory.
This became a spiritual time of continual prayer. Healing occurred as I rode the ski lift and skied the slopes several times a week, starting a few weeks after he died. I prayed and talked to Ron on the chairlift. (I still do) I stopped at ridges to marvel at the views and give thanks. I noticed the royal blue sky; the beauty of the snow filled limbs of trees with their crisp crystals; gentle thin clouds passing slowly over a mountain and reflecting shade.
I began to heal.
Riding the lift became a time of calmness, absolute stillness around me, a time to pray and have gratitude. It became a time of spiritual awaking that I was not alone. Skiing on fresh powder is like floating in the air or skiing on groomed slopes gives me the feeling of flying. After two knee replacements, I am blessed to still be skiing.
The entire surroundings fill my soul.
In the Mourners Path Group, lead by Joanna and others, I learned about “Standing Stones” to honor our loved ones. That first day I left a “standing stone” in the snow. I have left many more since. God IS all around us. God is in the creeks, ocean, rivers, mountain tops and, yes, on a cold and frosty chair lift in the Rockies.
Thanks be to God.
Jane Newman