Life is running alongside us begging us to take hold,
literally feeding us with all it has
surrounding us with an invisible yet visible bountiful blanket.
How easy it is to be blinded by the beautiful abundance,
as we wake up to a new day with too many stars and grains of sand to count.
Whatever brings you joy no matter how small let it led you,
let it root inside of you, and water it with your longing.
Zinnias' unpretentious joyous wonder can make me smile without even trying with their pop-pop colorful sturdy stock. Zinnias remind me of home, which reminds me of childhood, which reminds me of summer, blackberry pies, and swimming at my cousins' home then coming back for dinner with a bouquet of zinnias on the kitchen table which reminds me of home and the swirl starts over again.
Summer was bliss is bliss and may it be bliss for years to come.
I am grateful for those days that formed me, that have surrounded me these last few months, simple pleasures, nature's surprises yet constantness the crop duster overhead, the chartreuse rice fields, the starlings dancing intricately in remarkable patterns overhead, and the cornucopia of summer's harvest.
Grateful, spoiled, soaking it up while letting it run through me.
Early evening my nieces, mom, and sister in law drive alongside the rice fields to a certain magical juicy place to pick wild blackberries. We are addicted to picking, to staining our hands violet, to giggling how many blackberries there are, challenging ourselves to pick more, wondering how many pies my mom can make in a year. During this Covid 19 time when I have heard many say, "I am over it" I hear myself giving thanks for the luxury of picking wild blackberries with my family as the sunsets… a simple pleasure unrushed, giving, endless and restorative to mind, heart and soul.
Counting goodness where it is sending it as a prayer to those in need, may this unexpected joy reach into my brother's tumors and bring a healing change.
Prayer is that to take what we have and send it forward be it work, effort, time, energy, resources, blackberry picking, the joy we feel, the ache we carry…
Today I will be a zinnia and send you colorful virtual hugs.
A million wonders in those petals that don't ask for anything.
Leave a Reply