Peace through Music

The blessing of a broken pinkie finger

Over the Christmas break I was playing basketball with Joe, JP and the boys and as Zachary and I were in the thick of defense I somehow went for the ball and broke my little pinkie finger. Well actually, I thought I had only jammed it and that the pain would subside, however, when it didn't and my finger swelled overnight, Joe took me to urgent care confirming a broken finger. Enough about that as my real blessing is that the broken finger slowed me down. We chose to have a quiet new year's eve and day. In the slowing down of my life, I had time for prayer, reflection, quiet and peace. I realized how much I was missing in just being beside restful waters, as Psalm 23 describes.  In this time of resting, in order to heal, I am finding blessings far beyond what I could have imagined.

Curating Cozy

A new year has begun. My sister Bridget sent a text to inspire us to be healthy. I proceeded to make french toast using fresh eggs, adding vanilla and soaking my french bread in the egg batter before frying them in butter. With our  Christmas tree and lights still up, I lit candles on my table and sat with hot coffee and savored every bit of these delicious homemade french toasts. The warm lighting in our little home made me reflect on what I would like to experience in this new year and my inspiration came quickly to curate cozy.  Cozy can mean so many things, however, for me it conjures warmth, simplicity, romance, good food, health, peace and quiet.  I am also beginning a home based 10 day retreat based on a book my mother posthumously gave me for Christmas:  The Song of the Seed, A Monastic Way of Tending the Soul, by Macrina Wiederkehr.  In the first session two themes are shared: 1. Quieting the Soul and 2. Letting God's word romance you.  Perhaps curating cozy is God's way of nurturing me.  I will be quiet and abide for today in this feeling of cozy. Mom, thank you for the book and your presence within while I enjoyed every bite of the french toast.

Rain's Beauty

I awoke to the sound of gentle rain falling and then was lulled back to sleep. This morning the rain's fragrance permeates the yard as I open the windows to just take in the beauty of the rain.  I am grateful for the rain. It purifies the air and brings lightness to my morning.  Rain seems to come less frequently due to the drought. When is does finally fall, my heart sings and my soul dances.  My mind relishes the possibilities of staying in to bake, craft or sew while my body wants to walk, run and play outside.  I am moved my the sound, smell and luxury of our light rain.  Imagine how the plants feel.

Morning Ritual

Today begins a new day and I am inspired to describe my morning ritual.  I awake to Joe's kiss, coffee and then leaning out our charming dining room window, like a "french lady," as Joe describes me, I blow a  kiss and wave goodbye to Joe. Joe leaves the house at 5:25am Monday through Friday. It is then, that my secret ritual begins. I dance, pray and journal my way through the morning. I put on the music of Om Name Bhagavate and do a 7 minute yoga flow followed by time in silence and prayers of petition and breathing with the Breath of Life.  I write in my journal or blog and perhaps a letter or note to a friend or family member. By this time the sun is beginning to rise, the day underway and the time has come for a yummy english muffin with my father's home made jam, today will be peach.  My morning ritual inspires my day to be productive, creative, and calm.  No matter what the rest of the day is, the morning ritual is my gift to me and in the end to everyone.

Ordinary to Extraordinary

As I was unloading the dishes from the dishwasher this morning, I was grateful for the simplicity of this every day ordinary task.  I can count on it, I know where the dishes go and I follow a rhythm of removing three items at a time and placing them in the proper cupboard. I do it mindfully and today gratefully. Joe and I are lucky to have dishes, dishwasher, food, a home and simple pleasures and tasks.  As I consider the purpose of this blog post, I realize in performing ordinary tasks in life,  when I am mindful in these ordinary tasks, I become awake to the extraordinary life that is made up of every day moments. Over this past weekend, I worked on my side garden area that had become cluttered with too may pots and plants that needed care and pruning, out door furniture that needed repair and painting and generally organizing the  space.  I enjoyed every minute of the moving to and fro of furniture, pruning of plants, repotting and ultimately purging some items. In reflecting on these ordinary tasks of the weekend and this morning, I am grateful that I have these ordinary tasks that make my life extraordinary.  

Eating with a squirrel

The squirrel on the neighbor's rooftop. 

This morning as I was enjoying my spa breakfast I saw a little squirrel eating a loquat.  To my delight, I watched this little creature enjoy his fruit, as I too was enjoying my strawberries, pineapple and banana cut up and placed in a pretty dish.  As part of a very deliberate practice of doing one thing at a time, including eating my meals without reading, texting or other task, I am observing life more fully. Food has become more flavorful as I savor each bite,  people are more interesting as I practice presence without distraction from computers and other things,  and nature is vibrant and beautiful as I take time to observe.  Taste and see the goodness of the Lord of Life, it is rich, luxurious and satisfying one thing at a time.