Nebraska Synod ELCA

by Lisa Kramme

It was Easter of 2018 when I started seeing hearts. I walked most days. Catching my attention were leaves on the sidewalk, tar that filled cracks in the street, clouds, and even anthills that had the distinctive shape of a heart. I’d take a picture, post it on social media, and use the hashtag #heartsinthewild as a caption.

After a while, instead of simply seeing hearts, I started noticing them. There’s a difference between seeing and noticing. Seeing can happen and then forgetting what is seen can happen just as easily. But intentionally noticing something has a greater chance of making an impression on me. This impression can be a moment of reflection, a feeling of calm, an inspiration.

During the summer of 2018, I spent time in Oregon with my son and my sister. They had seen my posts about hearts in the wild and were noticing them, too, quickly pointing them out in a smoothly rounded stone on the beach, a hole in the leaf on a plant in a hardware store. Into the fall of that year, hearts in the wild showed up in the bark of a tree, my kitchen sink, as a paper scrap on carpet and even in a grilled cheese sandwich. They also showed up in texts, emails and direct messages online as people started sending me pictures of hearts in the wild they saw on walks, dinner plates and in rock formations.

If you feel drawn to the practice of noticing hearts in the wild, it’s pretty simple. Wherever you find yourself, take time to see with the intention of noticing. Once you notice something heart-shaped, pause. Take a picture if you’d like, smile or point out the heart to someone else. After you’ve noticed the heart, allow it to continue to make an impression on you as it will. Maybe that impression will feel like joy or sound like a story.

The noticing of hearts in the wild reminds me of how spiritual directors and others in the church will sometimes ask, “Where have you seen God lately?” If you feel drawn to the practice of noticing God, the steps are similar. Wherever you find yourself, take a moment to set an intention of noticing. Take several deep breaths, slow the pace of your movement if you’re walking, put your feet flat on the floor if you’re sitting, try to let go of thoughts if your mind is racing.

Once you notice something that seems like God’s doing, pause. Draw a picture, write a paragraph or two, smile, or share what you’ve noticed with someone else. After you’ve noticed God’s presence, allow it to continue to make an impression on you as it will. Maybe that impression will feel like peace or sound like a story. Perhaps being intentional about noticing hearts in the wild and noticing God will lead to new surprises and stories in the years to come.

About the author: Lisa currently serves as the Director for Campus Ministry and Spiritual Wellness at Midland University in Fremont and as a spiritual director.