Shining Spirit

Where I live, exercise walking is a year-round invitation. Pleasant in winter.  Hot in summer.  Inviting all the time. But here in the Sonoran Desert, there is competition for the pathway, especially early in the morning, the only time to beat the summer heat.

Lots of critters go hunting for breakfast about the time folks put on their walking shoes and hit the pavement.  So when I walk early in the summer months, I spend a lot of time looking down.  Watching the path or trail.  I’m not anxious to walk upon a pack of hungry coyotes, or a rattlesnake on the prowl, or maybe a bobcat crouched and waiting for breakfast to hop by….rabbits everywhere.  I won’t go into detail about menus for mountain lions because those sightings are rare, unless you like to early morning hike up in the nearby mountains.

So, my point.  Many of us have grown accustomed to “watching our feet” as we navigate twists and turns on the trails…or to keep eyes down on shadowy sidewalks.  Some of us even go through the rest of the day looking down.

But, Oh, the things we miss above our heads.  Just this morning, two hawks raced low through the trees, did an after-burner climb straight up into blue sky and then performed an acrobatic spectacle that matched anything I’ve ever seen in the human world.  They turned to face each other, beaks almost touching, made complete acrobatic rolls more than once, fell freely toward the ground, then gracefully defied gravity and soared again.  After a few minutes they parted, one heading east, the other zooming low over my head.  I applauded, clapped my hands.  I’ll bet he understood as he disappeared in the distance.

And then there is the early morning art work in the sky.  The sun brings a delightful art display almost every morning.  Makes you want to sit down on a big rock and take it all in…but check behind the rock first before sitting.

Looking down is important, no doubt.  Important and necessary. But when possible, look up and see all you’re missing.  One beautiful surprise after another waits above your heard.

This is what today will look like.

No two are exactly alike, so don’t bother.

Today is not a contest to be figured out or won.

Today is a day to live with sacred creativity,
vibrant color, imagination and
splendid diversity.

Today is a day to be glad and grateful.

We woke this morning into a world of escalating dualism, the state of opposites, radical difference, us and them.  I’d like to go back to sleep and try this waking thing all over again.  A different location?  But we all know this world is the only one we have, or the only one that will tolerate us.

So, sometime today do something that will nourish a movement away from deadly dualism.  Do or say something that will counter critical separation.  Pray it, sing it, whistle it, draw a picture…lots of way.  But just do it.  Will your effort matter in the long run?  I don’t know but, wonder of wonders, maybe my song will harmonize with your song.  And then we will be singing our song.

Will any of this be the doorway out of dualism?

Only if we sing.

“take my yoke upon you, and learn from me.”

One of the things that really excites Maggie in the early morning is her red leash.  She does a four legged tap dance all over the kitchen when I reach for it.  The leash means something special…in this case a walk, or a trip in the car, or a jaunt to pick up mail down the block.

She shames me because her joy is so apparent and mine is less so.  I don’t equate Maggie’s red leash with the one I choose to put on every day.  Mine is not a leash, but a yoke…which sounds unattractive.  But I remember that to be yoked is to be paired, and in the yoke I am invited to step into each morning, the strong force beside me is the Way of Jesus.  Everyday you and I choose a partner in the daily dance.  That partnering force can be fear or anger or despair.  They’re all waiting to sign you dance card.

Maggie wears her leash because I need to guide her around obstacles and potential harm that she does not recognize.  I teach her as we walk along together.  I guess you could say we’re yoked together.

You’ve heard the saying “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks”.   Well, I’m living proof that the saying is wrong.  I learn something new every time I yoke up, every time I put on Christ as part of waking into the world for another day.  So tomorrow, somewhere around 5 a.m., if you feel the earth shake, don’t worry.  It’s just Maggie and me tap dancing as we hook up.

“take my yoke upon you, and learn from me.”

Matthew 11

May all who are waiting find joy in Morning’s appearing.

Birds poised to fling their songs into the quiet air.

Lizards calculating the warm ray’s trajectory
to the stone fence.

Buds containing explosions of yellow and red
never before seen in the universe.

The dying who pray for a bright
stairway to rest.

The broken hearted hoping for the healing
adhesive of Light to make them whole again.

All who are hungry or homeless, hoping that some
compassionate person will follow Light’s leading
to their desperation.

May all who are waiting find joy in Morning’s appearing.

Here’s an example of Generosity. In fact, this probably qualifies as Lavish Generosity.

Or Abundant Generosity. Or Unselfish G… Or Bountiful G… Just a few more:

Copious… Abounding… Bounteous… Overflowing… Exuberant… Luxuriant…

Plenteous… Now substitute these words for Generosity.

Civility

Thoughtfulness

Mercy

Compassion

Gratitude

You finish the lists with your own words. Then, when finished, translate the words into what you do today. Pick one and take it into your world. You and the world will be better for it.

Beautiful flowers grow from a boulder’s jagged crevice, from cracks in city streets, the least expected places…even from a barrel cactus draped in sharp fishhook spikes.  Beauty has the strength and apparent determination to appear and thrive no matter what the circumstances might be.  So may I experience Beauty today in all the unfolding moments that await the dawn.  May I find her in the least expected place.