Beautiful. Sacred. Holy.

Beautiful. Sacred. Holy. The words popped up in my mind, and a moment later, I realized I was hearing a trumpet playing a gentle melody as I walked with my dog back from the park. At first the sound seemed unearthly, with no physical source. But as I walked past the edge of Chinatown Square, I could see the man playing the trumpet as he has many days this fall. The music always feels unexpected, at first gently emerging in the other sounds of the city, then becoming pronounced, demanding attention, demanding to be located. It pulls my mind out of whatever thoughts I’ve been lost in, and into the moment.

This day, the sound of the trumpet felt sacred. It marked that moment as holy. Although it was just a snippet of time as I walked past the man playing the trumpet, the rest of the day I puzzled over my experience. How long have I gone without feeling that holiness? Why did those words pop into my mind with the sound of the trumpet? How could I access that transcendence again?

Transcendence—that pause of all other things, that awe and connection to something more big, beautiful, and holy—has never been something I could control or demand. Yet, I have had these moments at times in my life when the busy-ness of life has otherwise overwhelmed me. They have usually happened when I am alone, walking or driving, and usually in nature. It is as if the Creator is reaching into my mind for just a moment, connecting me to the bigger picture. Although parts of life continue to be busy and challenging, the effects of this transcendent moment linger, providing a sense of calm and stability. So, I give thanks for this unpredictable respite; and I wonder if this experience is one that others share.

Creator, thank you for the times you touch us personally. Let these transcendent moments give us strength and energy to carry out your work.

Elizabeth is a Peace Church member who now lives in Chicago, where she walks her dog to the many parks.