Sacred Surprises

We share this world with some truly amazing neighbors. I walked along the shoreline of this lovely lake the other day admiring the smooth, glass-like surface, the reflections of pines and oaks decked out in their autumn coats, the brilliant white bird that swooped low over the water. All the pieces of the neighborhood fit so nicely together and produced a very memorable moment. And as I ducked beneath the low hanging branches of a nearby tree, I felt those silken threads brush across my face, the unmistakable signal that you’ve just walked through a spider’s web. When that happens, I always hope no one’s at home. When I accidently wrap myself in a spider’s web, I always feel a tinge of regret. This amazing creature has spent hours, maybe days, constructing his silken home and I’ve destroyed it in a matter of seconds. And now, if the spider family is to catch another meal, they have to start all over again, thanks to my inattention to the almost invisible. The handiwork of creation is stunning, isn’t it. The colors and textures, the sounds and smells, the “in your face” obvious and the subtle, almost unnoticed delicacies are, all together, breathtaking. Can you remember the last time you were stopped in your tracks by unexpected beauty or by a sacred surprise? Experiencing grand moments is rewarding, but there is something extraordinary about a soft breeze moving the silken threads of the spider’s home. Make a memory today. Be alert and aware, attentive to the Presence that is endless and inviting. All is gift, and all is yours.