The Vale

As I sit this morning, the cold Air reminds me of Winter, but as it does, I am struck by the importance of being present to the fact that this is Spring. I begin paying attention to how powerfully the past can distract me from the uniqueness of the moment. As this happens I work to lift the vale of expectations to see the world around me as it is; ever changing, ever unique, ever new. I watch as the vale lifts and drops, lifts and drops again.

Pace

This morning I had to surrender my routine over to the invitations of structures outside of my control. After doing so, I am aware of returning to a pace that is of my choosing. I am paying attention to the challenges of slowing back down to my preferred pace, and noting the difference between the two. I am grateful for the luxury of being able to most often set my own pace, and am aware that this is a privilege.

Dancing Trees

I watch the forty five foot Trees in Pine Grove dance in the strong winds this morning, and am reminded just how flexible they are. I often see their branches waving, but in this kind of wind I can really see just how much even their trunks can bend without breaking. I am reminded of how often I underestimate my own ability to get through stressful times. My branches and truck can take more than I think, and I am grateful for the reminder. Trees remind me also that even the difficult times contain beauty.

Spring Din

As Spring proceeds, there are so any Bird and Frog songs happening that they seem to be indistinguishable. This gets me thinking about how some days I can be invited in so many directions that I can lose track of the one in which I am going. That's when I work to slow down, and pay attention. As I took this idea up this morning, I was eventually able to discern the individual songs from the din.

Fear

Sometimes, here at the cabin, Birds fly inside. They usually fly in through an open sliding door. I am always struck by how hard it is for them to find that the slider is still open and available for them to fly through, back out to the open Air. If I were the Bird, I imagine I would be so distracted by the fear of being trapped, that I would miss the open door that is right in front of me.

Sit and Wait

As I sat outside this morning it seemed like every moment brought a new sound or sight. It began with Ducks flying overhead, then songbirds in the woods, then tree frogs down by the Pond. One of my teachers taught me that the best way to see and hear cool stuff outside is to sit down, be quiet, and wait.

This gets me thinking about how my culture invites me to chase after what I want. My experience has taught me that sometimes in the chasing I miss what is right in front of me, waiting for me to just stop and pay attention.

When am I?

This morning my wife mentioned the Birds she saw yesterday, and the Dog that lives with us immediately ran to the window to see them. This gets me thinking about how language can invite me out of the moment I am in to join with others in their experiences of the past. I am left wondering if there is a way for me to step into these experiences while having one foot firmly planted int the current moment.