Capping a long week,
I settle into a chair on the deck
and close my eyes.
The warmth of the afternoon sun
plays tag with a dry, cool breeze
across my face.
Drifting.
The birch rustle gently,
occasionally overpowered by
the wind mimicking the surf,
pushing through the pine branches.
How many different bird calls?
One playful, one incessant, one urgent.
A car going through the neighborhood,
now a plane far overhead.
Drifting.
My eyes open to a flood of green, spring green,
the white blooms of a dogwood,
and the golden hue of a sinking sun,
warm upon my face.
Drifting.
House empty,
dog in my lap.
Content.
Let these moments last forever.
Life need be no more.
Indeed, it was a wonderful spring day in the neighborhood, Mr. Rogers — sunny and warm.
And an unexpected gift.
Planning to be in Europe all next week, I expected to spend a manic weekend packing and catching up around here, after being on the west coast much of last week. Late Thursday, starting to stress, I recognized that I didn’t have to go to Europe, that I should tend to the more pressing priorities at work and couldn’t afford to lose a week traveling.
Friday morning I pulled the plug, canceled my reservations, apologized to my co-workers whom I was to accompany, and shifted my focus to those more pressing priorities.
That decision allowed me to awaken this morning to a day of relaxed and infinite possibility, especially with my family in Florida. Just the dog and me. Both of us took advantage of the beautiful weather for walks, I wrote two blog postings, and I finished migrating this blog from Blogger to Wordpress (not a pretty process but I’m basically there — assuming you’re reading these words).
It’s also nice to officially express gratitude after an absence of some four months. Not that I’ve been ungrateful. Just lousy spiritual discipline.
Those mornings when the sun is out, our Miniature Schnauzer positions herself on a chair in the dining room and sun bathes. She sits quite still, happy and content.
Seeing her meditative pose this morning reminded me of the simple gifts we experience every day. Just a moment of presence can enable us to remember our blessings: the warmth of the sun, a sip of coffee, a deep and conscious breath, a smile, a hug, remembering someone dear to us, a melody, quiet.
May your day be filled with these precious moments.
