Good morning…
“Two sentences stay with me from our text string this week,” I wrote to a friend who is away at the beach. “I am wondering what you would think of me forming a blog post around your two lively sentences: ‘In dealing with our transition, it is good to have crystal clear Caribbean water and sun…books…dinners out…movie nights…a dog to walk…exercise daily…and our scheduled next appointment. Life is as sweet as it can be.'”
“Ha!” she responded to my inquiry several hours later. “We are on the porch now… listing the incredible blessings of today! So I hardly feel like I’m surrounded by grief or loss. Today we drank our favorite coffees on the porch overlooking the sand dunes….. traveled into emerald seas in a beautiful boat where we connected with dolphins, pelicans, seagulls and parachutes in jellyfish-like balloons hanging over the horizon… pondered a big storm coming and instead a glorious sunset took over the story… and in between there were dog walks, bicycling and shopping for yummy food. And did I mention a movie and wine on the docket for tonight? The sound of the surf and birds as we contemplate it all? Our favorite playlist in the background? We are right here in the midst of God’s marvelous moment! It is perfectly fine for you to write about us.”
Isn’t it incredible to watch the tipping of my friend’s inner scales? She could choose to put all of her weight on heavy feeling words. Transition. Grief. Loss. Scheduled next appointment. But no! Instead she focuses her attention on the light, the bright, the joy of now. Might we join her right here in the midst of God’s marvelous moment?
God’s blessings follow you and await you at every turn:
…judgment and sarcasm beckon you, but you refuse.
For you, the Eternal’s Word is your happiness.
It is your focus—from dusk to dawn (Psalm 1:1-2, VOICE).
Water. Sun. Books. Dinner. Movie. Dog. Walk. Exercise. Porch. Coffee. Boat. Storm. Sunset. Bike. Shop. Food. Wine. Surf. Birds. Music. The gratitude list of my contemplative friend expands, on and on and on. Following her example, let’s make our own expansive list.
Amid this time of tender transition, might we ask ourselves: What simple things tip my inner scale toward joy right now?
…Sue…
