Breathing Space

I’m sitting here listening to the sweet sound of rain. RAIN! At long last!

The heavy weight of fire season is still with us but with many alerts and orders being rescinded and fires being brought under control, there is an easing of the burden. Skies, though not completely smoke free, are clear enough to enjoy spending time outside. The respite comes just as I felt close to crumbling.

Of course there are other things; there are always other things. But I look up at clouds that are finally visible without the cloak of oppressive smoke hiding them, and see hope. In the backyard, Gerry is laying out supplies and preparing to enlarge the footprint of our garden. Already, I am anticipating next year’s planting. And, today, I am looking forward to my girls arriving later for one last summer visit.

Without such glimmers of hope life becomes difficult to muddle through. Days grow long and dark when there seems little to look forward to. My faith helps with that, but let’s be real, some days it’s just not enough. (Or maybe that’s just me.)

Some days it’s more difficult to find joy sparkers. That’s one reason I started keeping a vase of fresh flowers on my dining table last when the madness started in 2020. It’s a simple thing, but it helps. With all the big things prone to steal my peace, it’s often the little things that restore it.

Like the blue sky I just noticed out the window.

Or the deep and regular breathing of my dogs when they sleep.

Or the box of beets on my washing machine that I’ll cook and pickle today.

Or a moment of prayer.

Thank you.

There’s a lot of terrible out there, but there’s more beautiful than we realize. We have the ability to experience much of it through our senses but there’s so much more. Don’t believe me? Take time to watch this.

Today promises to be a busy one despite it being the sabbath. We’ll take time for Zoom church, then I’ll get busy in the canning kitchen and Gerry will work in the yard and our girls will arrive later and somewhere along the way I’ll figure out what to make for dinner. There will be hugs and laughter and the heaviness that tries so hard to claw its way in will be kept at bay.

By the way, did I mention we got rain? 🙂