As I’m writing this blog I’m listening to “Pilgrim,” a song by John Mark McMillan. The lyrics remind me of my mood while I was writing chapter five in my book Things We’ve Handed Down: Twelve Letters I Leave for You.
Like each chapter in this book, I wrote about my thoughts on a book which had a major impact on my life. This chapter’s book was Pilgrim at Tinker Creek by Annie Dillard.
This is what I wrote in Things We’ve Handed Down:
It started when I read Pilgrim at Tinker Creek. Through her tapestry of nature’s intricate threads, her poetic narrative weaved my view in new directions, noticing what I often ignore, appreciating what I often rush by. She beckoned me to behold the world with new eyes. That is what I want to hand down to you. A beckoning, a luring, an awareness, a weaving, a noticing, an appreciation. Dillard unveils the marvels hidden in the ordinary, urging us to pause—one of my favorite words, one of those words I’ve used too often, one of those words I need to live better in my own pilgrimage. She helps me observe. She helps me embrace the quiet wonders of my walks and talks and deep thoughts and short reflections.
Her observations shout for us to live in awe, inviting us to notice the gentle dance of life in the intricacies of our existence. Where is my Tinker Creek? Will I notice it, hear it, walk by it? Where is your Tinker Creek? Will you notice it, hear it, walk by it? Is the creek a reality or a metaphor? Yes. And yes. In this normal rush of life in our modern madness, let us slow the pace. Let us park the cars of our preoccupations. Let us embark in an excursion of seeing the unseen, hearing the unheard, hugging the unloved. Maybe it is the fish and a creek and the wind and a walk. Maybe it is the song and a conversation and the story and a few tears. My dear friend, there is beauty surrounding us. Overlooked in the rush of current haste, it is all around us.
Walk by your creek this week. Feel that wind this week. Hear the noise this week. Rest from the hurry and welcome the breeze of peace.
As I read again what I wrote, I want to apply it. I need to apply it. To walk. To feel. To hear. To rest.
I remember revisiting my own version of Tinker Creek in last December. I also remember reminding myself to not wait until I hear a waterfalls or stand on a mountain or feel the wind or stair at the stars. I need to—today, now—hit pause and breathe deeply and see what I often ignore. The wonder is nearby. Let’s not hurry past it.
Today, may all the pilgrims find a creek—or some place of peace. Rest there. If just for a moment, rest there. Even with a packed schedule and full agenda, rest there for a moment. And welcome the breeze of peace.
While reading this I was thinking about my time in the woods at my grandparents house when I was younger. Me and my cousins would soak up every ounce of sunlight, and sometimes even play in the woods until dark. As I remember this time, I am left in awe of how beautifully and wonderfully made our world is. I thank God for those times.
I love this! For me, my “Tinker Creek” is the sky. I love looking at the clouds, admiring how often the sky changes colors, the variation and beauty in the sunsets. I will go for walks or just sit outside and look at the sky when I have nothing to do. As a college student, I have a busy schedule, and during the semester I often forget to look up and appreciate the sky. This is a good reminder to me that it is when I am busy that I need to be taking the time to stop, breathe, and appreciate God’s creation and beauty.
This post is such a beautiful reminder to slow down and notice the simple things we often overlook. It’s so easy to rush through life and miss the little moments that can bring us peace—like a breeze, a quiet walk, or even just taking a deep breath. I love how you tie this idea to Pilgrim at Tinker Creek and the way it inspires you to see the world differently. It’s a great reminder that we don’t have to wait for something big or special to feel at peace. Sometimes, it’s just about pausing and being present in the moment.
I think that there is so much significance in this blog. We live in such a “busy” culture that is always on the run and in a rush. We often forget to slow down and enjoy the mundane. As you said, there is so much beauty surrounding us. I think we take a lot for granted that we see in our everyday life. However, if we pause to take in the beauty in the world around us, I believe we would have a new sense of gratitude. I am glad that we have a God that calls us to rest and to experience His peace.
After reading this I was reminded of how significant the world around us is. It reminded me of how simple it is to just unplug from everyday life and destress by taking a walk outside and just allowing yourself to get lost in the beauty of nature.
Learning to live resting is what I believe God calls us into, and it may not always seem “restful” at least in the way we view rest, but that is part of the uninterrupted joy God is and that we get to participate in.
I think that it is so important to find spaces where we can be reminded of just how beautiful God’s creation is and how much care he puts into the smallest things. It reminds me of how much love he has for me despite how small I am in the scheme of his whole creation. My Tinker Creek is the beach, especially during the winter. I like to walk and sometimes just sit and take in every little piece of my surroundings. It helps me to find peace and trust that the God who is big enough and wise enough to create something so vast and intricate is in control of my situations.
This piece is a really good reminder to slow down and appreciate the small, beautiful things in life that God created, and we often miss because we’re too busy. The idea of Tinker Creek encourages us to find peace in the present, whether it’s through a quiet moment, a walk, or just noticing the world around us. It asks us to stop, enjoy the calm, and see things in a deeper way. In my opinion this piece feels warm and invites us to take a moment for peace, something we all need in our busy lives.
I think there is a beauty hidden behind an ability to write the way in which this blog was written. The way it is written forces you to look back to your last couple of hours and reflect upon the words, people, things, or places you may have missed because you are on auto-pilot. I feel like multiple people will read halfway through the paragraph then go back up to the top and reread what they just read in order to fully understand or digest what they are reading. Life seems simple or single faceted when in auto-pilot mode, but when you take just one step back to see a picture you have not seen before, you will learn to appreciate things you didn’t know were worth appreciation.
While reading this blog, I can not help but to continue to refer back to the line that talks about being reminded to live in awe. I resonate with this, and have tried to be extremely intentional in this because for a time of my life, cynicism took over. While I was reading “Get Out of Your Head” by Jennie Allen, she brought this point up as well. That our minds become adjusted to living in a way where the awe of life is no longer there, and cynicism takes over your thoughts. Being in awe of life in general is what helped me overcome the mindset that I had started to get into.
I absolutely love this! I think we often forget about God’s wonderful creations around us. The overlooked small things. Though my “Tinker Creek” is somewhat different- riding in the car alone, no music, admiring God’s beautiful creation. This blog reminds me just how important it is to slow down for a moment and soak up the peace around me. Like yourself, I need to apply it in my everyday life. Just pausing and sitting in a moment of rest will help me appreciate what surrounds me. Thank you so much for this.