Sunday Joy

I got up and took an early morning bike ride this morning. Feeling the breeze in my face and pedaling along the streets and paths in my neighborhood felt like perfect

Sunday Joy

It wasn’t too hot yet when I went for my bike ride and the skies were a bit overcast. Gazing at the greens of the trees, bushes and lawns as I rode astonished me and filled me with gratitude. I feel so blessed to not be worried about fires, floods, or excessive heat.

I live my life in widening circles

that reach out across the world.

I may not complete this last one

but I will give myself to it.

 

I circle around God, around the primordial tower.

I’ve been circling for thousands of years
and I still don’t know: am I a falcon,
a storm, or a great song? 

   — Rainer Maria Rilke

But as I feel great gratitude, I also am feeling a bit of survivor guilt. How did I get to be so lucky in life to live here, now, with all of the blessings that surround me? I have no answers, except to practice gratitude and joy. It seems to me that we need to celebrate our blessings, knowing that life can change in an instant. And we need to do what we can to help others and our world no matter how small our actions are.

In-between the sun and moon,
I sit and watch
and make some room
for letting light and twilight mingle,
shaping hope
and making single glances last eternity,
a little more,
extending love beyond the doors of welcoming,
while wedding all the parted people,
even sons to violent mothers,
and searching all the others finding light
where twilight lingers,
in-between the sun and moon.

   — Pádraig Ó Tuama

How about you? What are you feeling like in the midst of today’s challenges all around?

May you walk in beauty.

Note: I made the photos in today’s post in late summer last year.