We had a lovely OCC women’s retreat on Saturday, September 12th at Mercy by the Sea Retreat and Conference Center in Madison.  This year’s faith formation theme is practicing presence—a rich theme indeed.  The retreat center is such a beautiful place, right on the Long Island Sound.  As the day unfolded it reminded me of the power and tranquility of being near bodies of water. 

Have you heard of “blue mind theory”?  It’s this idea that being near a body of water helps people achieve a state of water-associated peace.  If you take a moment to picture a favorite body of water, whether that is the ocean, a lake, a river, a pond, a waterfall, or a bubbling brook, we might notice that we start to feel a bit more at ease.  Hearing the ocean waves or noticing the blues of the sea and the sky drawing our eyes ever onward toward the horizon can have a calming effect.  Being in nature is good for our mental health. 

When we start to think about this more deeply, “throughout history, healers around the world have recognized the therapeutic effects of water. The Greeks sought natural springs and baths to restore the mind and body, while the Japanese practiced misogi, an ancient water cleansing ritual that persists today.”[1] 

In our Christian tradition we could consider the Sacrament of Baptism and how we name and claim beloved children of God in sacred waters.  We could consider Jesus telling the Samaritan woman at the well, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but those who drink of the water that I will give them will never be thirsty.  The water that I will give will become in them a spring of water gushing up to eternal life.” (John 4:13-14)

We are days away from the official end of summer.  Though God’s gifts are all around us.  We do not have to travel far to experience peace and connection.  Just look up and look out.  Remember the living water offered to us by Christ.  Thanks be to God!

Grace and Peace,
Rev. Lauren

[1] “The Science Behind How Just Being Near Water Can Help Mental health — Even Virtually” December 28, 2022, Headlight, https://headlight.health/the-science-behind-how-just-being-near-water-can-help-mental-health-even-virtually/

The Orange Peal Pastor’s Note 9/16/26

Photo by Rev. Lauren Ostrout.