Life is a Gift

Yesterday I had several reminders that

The first reminder was when I listened to a report about interviews with refugees from the city of Mariupol in Ukraine. As the refugees finally reached safer territory in other parts of Ukraine a reporter asked them how they felt.

“Joyful!” they reported, “so grateful just to be alive!”

The reporter was somewhat in awe of the sheer joy these people exhibited simply to have escaped Mariupol after enduring weeks of living underground with no electricity, no running water, little food and constant shelling. Having lost all of their possessions and suffered so much they were joyful and grateful just to be alive.

The Gift

Be still, my soul, and steadfast.
Earth and heaven both are still watching
though time is draining from the clock
and your walk, that was confident and quick,
has become slow.

So, be slow if you must, but let
the heart still play its true part.
Love still as once you loved, deeply
and without patience. Let God and the world
know you are grateful.
That the gift has been given.

— Mary Oliver

A Personal Reminder

My second reminder was a more personal reminder. Yesterday I was feeling better after several days of feeling unwell. I drove to an appointment at the chiropractor and on the way home noticed a weeping willow tree in a park along the road.

I often notice this charming park and the beautiful weeping willow tree but have never stopped to photograph it. What stood out to me yesterday was the golden color of the willows graceful long stems swinging in the breeze. All of the other trees in the park showed no colors but the gold of the willow stems was a sign to me that spring is not far away.

Late in the afternoon, I mentioned to Jon that I had noticed the weeping willow tree in Thorpe Park (Deephaven, MN) and someday soon I wanted to photograph it. He said, “Why don’t we go now?” I thought about it for a few moments and almost said no. It was almost time to begin cooking supper, the skies were gray, traffic might be heavy. But then I thought, “Why not? We’re in no hurry.”

So we drove to the park and I spent a joyful 15 minutes walking around the park and photographing the weeping willow tree. While I was there I was filled with joy, just because I was alive. It felt good to be walking outside with my camera, and I felt better than I had in days. I was so glad that I had decided to override my knee jerk resistance.

“When you do things from your soul, you feel a river moving in you, a joy.”
― Rumi

Gratitude and Joy

On the way home I thanked Jon for suggesting that we go right away and told him how much joy and gratitude I felt just to be alive and feeling well again. We talked about how one of the hidden benefits of ill health is how grateful we feel when we finally feel well. To feel this much joy after just a few days of not feeling well was such a gift. When I thought about the people of Ukraine and all that they are enduring right now I felt even more gratitude for this life I live.

When do you notice that life is a gift my friends?

May you walk in beauty.