The writer Henry Miller said, “The moment one gives close attention to anything, even a blade of grass, it becomes a mysterious, awesome, indescribably magnificent world in itself.”
Welcome to the Soul Podcast. I'm Stacey Wheeler.
Miller’s quote underlines the idea of the power of opening yourself to the moment; to being utterly present -to not simply focusing on the external world, but taking in a minute piece of the beauty around us... a blade of grass -in this example. In doing this, we’re escaping our external self for a moment, to go inside and let this experience connect to our soul. And it doesn't need to be something minute, it can be any sort of beauty we allow in. That's the key... beauty. Those who’ve done this with intention understand the power and beauty in it… and the deep value that comes from it. We've all done it in some way or another... without trying. Sometimes it’s simply by being in the moment in nature, where we are open and we feel present. Try standing on the rim of the grand canyon, looking down into the colorful interior of the earth. Or be in the heart of Yosemite Valley, surrounded by towering cliffs and massive waterfalls. How, in those moments could you avoid feeling something? You can't. That's an example of how nature moves us. These are big example that force us open. For the smaller -daily- beauties, we must train ourselves to open for them. 

When we let go in this way, we feel appreciation for the simple beauty around us... large and small. Other times, it’s more self-directed, as with meditation. The path we take there is one of intention, rather than chance. In both cases, the end result comes from allowing ourselves to be in the moment.
Being present in the moment can inspire us in unexpected ways. In reflecting on the first time he saw a redwood forest in California, John Steinbeck wrote, “The redwoods, once seen, leave a mark or create a vision that stays with you always. ... From them comes silence and awe. It’s not only their unbelievable stature, nor the color which seems to shift and vary under your eyes, no, they are not like any trees we know, they are ambassadors from another time.”
Steinbeck was (clearly)wide open the day he saw the coastal Redwoods. Nature can do that. Beauty we experience outside of ourselves is experienced at the Soul level. And whether intentional or accidental, the journey within is a priceless one that leaves us better than it found us.
The journey within is an old idea. Around the 19th century, Henry David Thoreau wrote, “Not until we are lost do we begin to find ourselves.” Thoreau found his place of meditation in nature, and is best known for his thoughts in the book Walden; or, Life in the Woods. This book was about his experience living more than a year in the woods near Walden Pond, Concord, Massachusetts, at the start of the industrial age. But, of course, this experience of being present is not unique to any one time period.
Going back a little further, the 13th-century poet Rumi wrote, “Lose yourself completely, return to the root of the root of your own soul.” Rumi was a Sufi mystic who lived during the time of the Great Mongol Invasion and the fall of Baghdad. Very long ago. He understood the value of connecting with his Soul. This is not new-age or even new. The beauty that comes to us when we allow ourselves to be open, is a human birthright -and has always been a part of us. 
There are many ways to look at this way we lose our self... this place. And you know, great minds have been trying to name it for thousands of years and have not settled on a consensus for what to call it… only a consensus that it is there. Carl Jung talked about 'The Inner Self' or 'Core Self'… though sometimes also used the word Soul.
Some prefer to use the phrase, 'The Heart' when reflecting on a deep center where truth and beauty are most deeply felt. Poets especially love this one.
Philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson liked the term 'Spirit' when he described an inner energy or essence that connects to a greater reality.
Quakers and other spiritual traditions speak of the 'Inner Light' that can be illuminated in moments of awe or deep reflection.
It’s been called The Seat of Being, The Witness, and The Ground of Being... and SO many other names. 

When we allow ourselves a journey within, we chance a glimpse of the soul.
In his Tao Te Ching, written around 500 BCE, Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu shared, “When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be.” He described the Tao as an unnamable source of all life, best experienced in silent, present moments that offer a glimpse of the soul. Through wu wei—effortless action—Lao Tzu encouraged aligning with life’s natural flow, letting go of ego and desires to find beauty in stillness and harmony. This focus on being present invites us to embrace the quiet beauty within.
So, now we've looked at quotes going back a few thousand years, essentially telling us the same thing: 'Be silent and find the beautiful thing inside.' Can we call it ancient wisdom?
Going back again, the Bible does not explicitly use the term "meditation," but rather talks about practices of prayer, solitude, and inward focus, which are foundational to many forms of Christian meditation. It says, "The kingdom of God is within you," and describes Jesus spending 40 days alone in the wilderness, fasting and praying, emerging with clarity about his mission and spiritual strength. Similarly, the Bible tells the story of the prophet Elijah, who, after fleeing into the wilderness, found himself alone on Mount Horeb (now Mount Sinai), feeling despondent and uncertain. There, he experienced a powerful, quiet encounter with God, who spoke not through a great wind, earthquake, or fire, but in a "gentle whisper"—this gentle whisper, an encounter with the Soul, perhaps the collective Soul, or even God. This theme of solitude and fasting to connect with the divine extends beyond Christianity, as seen in the Native American Vision Quest, a nearly universal practice among Indigenous peoples like the Lakota and Nez Perce. In this rite, seekers spend 1–4 days alone in nature, fasting and praying for a vision from the Great Mystery, often emerging with purpose and strength, mirroring Jesus' and Elijah's experiences. This well-known secret—communing with nature and fasting to hear the inner voice—spans cultures, suggesting a shared human yearning for the divine within.
So, we can see this idea of losing ourselves to find ourselves is an ancient idea. An ancient idea still hiding in plain sight. There’s a Zac Brown Band song called Knee Deep which has an ending lyric, 'When you lose yourself, you find the key to paradise.' It’s so catchy and upbeat that it’s easy to miss how deep the concept is. And it’s also easy to miss that the concept of losing yourself and finding paradise is an ancient idea—as we’ve seen. Big ideas repeat as philosophical statements… or even song lyrics.
The acoustic hit song from the band Kansas is another example of deep philosophy disguised as entertainment:
I close my eyes
Only for a moment and the moment's gone
All my dreams
Pass before my eyes, a curiosity
Dust in the wind
All they are is dust in the wind
This passage looks at the fragility of our existence, recognizing that when we pause, we can remember the value and beauty of the moment.
And the Beatles sang,
'Here comes the sun, doo-doo-doo-doo, Here comes the sun, and I say, It’s all right.'
This captures the hope and clarity that can come from the simplest moments in nature, such as the arrival of the sun, creating a sense of renewal and peace. The song was recorded after the band spent several weeks in India studying Transcendental Meditation with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi.
And don’t even get me started on John Denver lyrics. That was a man connected with the moment.
His song, Rocky Mountain High is a musical portrait of a man finding solace and renewal in the natural beauty of the mountains. The opening lyrics, “He was born in the summer of his 27th year, coming home to a place he’d never been before,” describe a feeling of rebirth. And this was clearly about his own journey. Denver wrote the song at the age of 28, shortly after moving to Colorado.
Nature provides visual beauty, which, if we’re open enough… touches the Soul.
The message in each of these quotes is not about meditating but is an idea to meditate on: Life is finite, beauty is in the moment. Every moment is here and gone faster than we can grasp it. And like dust in the wind, it is impossible to get back.
When meditating on this thought, we find ourselves in this very moment in our existence. We pause to recognize the feel of the sun on our face, or allow ourselves to feel our own version of a Rocky Mountain high. We are opening our soul to the finite moment. This very moment. It is here and gone. As we practice stepping out of ourselves, we find a greater appreciation for this moment—and each new moment.
When Henry Miller said, “The moment one gives close attention to anything, even a blade of grass, it becomes a mysterious, awesome, indescribably magnificent world in itself,” he was pointing to the idea that all we experience on the outside is also experienced on the inside. And if we are open enough, it is experienced deeply. 

When was the last time you slowed down and let yourself witness the natural world: a bird flying, clouds floating, the wind in the trees? Do it today. Do it now... or as soon as you can slow down and be here. Feed your soul. Feel your soul rise.