In This Moment

This is what the pond looks like this morning,

In this Moment.

The colors are a little more subdued than they were just a few days ago. But there is no ice on the pond this morning, the grass is still green, and there are still leaves on many of the trees around the pond. The sun is shining in a cloudless sky and we’re expecting a nice weather warmup this weekend.

Everything changes — every moment, every day. And sometimes things fall apart just a little bit or they fall apart spectacularly. Some days are like raking leaves in the wind. I’ve had a couple of those days this week.

Still, in this moment, I see beauty. Though I am tired from a rather stressful week, I am still here seeing beauty, feeling grateful, choosing joy.

When difficulties arise I often need to use all of the tools in my toolbox to stay centered, present, and calm (well, calmer than I used to be in stressful times). But isn’t it wonderful that we get so much practice learning what we need to learn in this lifetime? Every year the seasons turn and ready or not, winter arrives. The seasons turn in our lives too, and ready or not, winter arrives there also.

When we least expect it, life sets us a challenge to test our courage and willingness to change; at such a moment, there is no point in pretending that nothing has happened or in saying that we are not yet ready. The challenge will not wait. Life does not look back.
― Paulo Coelho, The Devil and Miss Prym

I would love to say that I meet every challenge that comes along with grace. But I don’t. We all stumble occasionally or struggle. It’s the getting back up after a stumble that matters to me. And the learning to create my own oasis of beauty, love, and trust that no matter what happens, all is well.

In this moment, how are you, dear friends?

May you walk in beauty.