The mist hangs over the street creating a sense of mystery, and  whitewashing all that once appeared vibrant.  The sky, a solid steel gray, with no distinction, is barely lit by the hidden sun. In the far corner of the array of houses is a shrub, lit up in white Christmas lights that pierce through the mist like a beacon. It reminds that, at times, confusion leaves us lost or without affect; and then suddenly, there in the midst, a light of joy, a signal to celebrate breaks through.

Where is your eye fixed...on the mist or the light? What brings light in to your life?

The sun shines brightly on the green, open field with space imagined beyond view. Birds flit back and forth trading places between two trees framing the way to the field, but otherwise all is still. The shadows on the houses nearby fade their existence from the picture and allow focus to remain on the lit pathway between them. It all appears as an invitation, come, run, be warmed in the sunshine, there's freedom in the light. It reminds of the ever present invitation we have to see the good, the positive and the hope; and to accept it to make the most of life.

Where is your bright open field today?

Amidst the cherry colored buds, covering the otherwise bare tree, is a single brown leaf dangling there in contrast, swinging back and forth. In closer view a few more single leaves are twirling solo in the gentle breeze. Disparate, they don't appear to fit, their season having past and the burgundy and reddish hues surrounding them on all sides.
It reminds of how we may at times hold on to yesterday, when today has bloomed. There is an aloneness in not wanting to let go.  Today presents new colors, connections,  and possibilities that can come alive once we do.

What do you need to let go of to embrace today?

The cluster of birds floating across the pink horizon seem casual and relaxed in their flight, as if enjoying the colorful sky and freedom of the open space. They pass by, out of sight and coming behind is a dark bird, bolting across, wings pinned back, and shooting in one straight direction. The contrast startles. Notable,though, is the feeling one gets observing each. One brings a sense of delight and peaceful optimism, the other anxious anticipation and tension. We move at varied paces, and with necessary purpose. But, our pace impacts more than just our own agenda. Our sphere of influence experience an effect that, in our driven state, we may easily underestimate.

What impact do you want to have on others as you pursue your goals?

The blue dawn lingers, as the street awakens with sounds and sights of new intentions. Two children make their way up the street, backpacks eclipsing most of their small frames, hoods protecting the cool mist from penetrating. A bright peach, flowered umbrella goes by, contrasting with the atmosphere, as if the day has already sprung open for its owner. The morning presents an opportunity all its own, and yet we can still choose what part of the day we want our intentions to live in.

What intentions will you set today? What mindset do you want to bring to them?

 A young woman passes on the sidewalk bouncing in time with her dogs gait.  Both are surveying their surroundings, likely with different points of focus.  Minutes earlier she walked by across the street, head buried in the cellphone while the dog enjoyed the nature around her.  Reawakened, she seems alert, in the present now, and sharing the experience. We are like this, as we allow the world we create in our minds to pull our gaze away from the truth and beauty of the world around us.  We miss the surprises and opportunities God creates for us, stepping over them on our way to our man-made hopes.

What, if you put it down, would create space for more joy in your life? 

What in nature surrounds you right now that is calling for your attention?

The trees are thinning, and some stand naked in the light breeze, imperceptible but to the one still holding tight to its golden leaves amidst its brown curled counterparts.  None of these are dead, just shifting their growth underground, their glory no longer displayed openly.
There are times when we recoil from the world around, drawing inward.  Life appears static, having ebbed, and all energy retired. Yet, hidden here in this dearth is the renewal of strength and growth.  Until, suddenly, from the stillness emerges transformation to a new season in full bloom.

What is a new perspective you can have on your life right now? Whats growing in you that wants to burst forth?

Faint glory on the horizon, the strokes of brightness line the sky amidst streaks of gray. Above, the sculpted canopy, with a rustic look, is a covering of complex contour; evidence of the artists hand fixed on detail.  Without warning, the sharp etchings throughout the expanse dissolve at once in to an undefined blur of smoky white, and the work is gone.
We can pour our hearts and minds into meaningful work, and in a moment it disappears, and we are left wondering what to do. A new perspective is to see this blur as an untouched canvas now awaiting the artists hand.

What new opportunity does a recent loss in your life represent?

One bird soars against the blue and white background, dipping and gliding, as if the sky and the breeze were his alone. The sun, brilliant below, sitting on a shadowed ledge, holds the promise of the day that is already in full motion for this winged one. Far out on the horizon above the trees are a few more birds doing the same.  Dancing through the clouds with their own pattern, their freedom is spacious, as if the sky and ground were cleared and all they see is blue. Their example penetrates, revealing how we each can choose to soar above, unfettered, as who we are; and at least for a few moments just enjoy the breeze.

What thoughts can you let go of today, that will let you enjoy the moment?  Your life?

As the faint gray smoke drifts slowly across the sky, the birds are enjoying exploring at a free and contrasting frenetic pace.  They race one direction, in ensemble, then return  like one large airplane taking off over the houses, flying right overhead. There's a freedom and a pattern to their scavenger hunt; perfection  immaterial, and little room for indecision or uncertainty. If the search turns up insufficient, on to the next. There's a peace in all that energy that is an example. The moment is worthy of full attention; No lingering on the past, no worry of the future. Just now, and fully alive.

What in front you is worthy of your full attention?

Yesterday I was lost in a dangerous part of the city. The GPS was guiding me in all the wrong directions although it's indicators were bringing me home. After traveling some lonely boarded up blocks, I sat at a crossroad seeing 2 streets in front that were concerning, a cross street I could see nothing of with trees blocking, and the pressure of cars all around me as rush hour ensued. The street sign warned of an area seen on the news. Asking God for help, I tapped my horn to catch the attention of the woman in the car in the next lane. Leaning on her hand with face partially covered obscuring her view of me fairly obviously, she did not respond. I tapped, and tapped again, looking to this woman who seemed very inclined not to help, likely concerned about my motives. Persistence paid off, as if my will was penetrating her mind, and she looked up, acting startled. Then with nervous smiles she and I gently rolled our windows down. She tried to help, expressing uncertainty.  But then, she committed to support me to the point that she held her car there though the light was green. There we were blocking the intersection, she completely unflustered by the honking behind her. In time she waved me to turn in front of her in the direction she had advised. And out of the confusion and fear I drove.

When vulnerable we tend to draw inward, even go into hiding. Yet there is nothing that connects us to each other more than our common vulnerability. We fear, we are uncertain, we get lost. Yet when others are in need our differences melt away, and we rise up to serve a higher purpose. Vulnerability is our connecting strength. Gods mercy lives through us.

What strength is there in a vulnerability are you hiding? 

A pair of cardinals light on the tree. One brilliantly red with black beard. His mate a bright beak but otherwise bland and brown, much less noticeable. But they land  together, gather together and fly off together. An invisible connection, a oneness they share, leaves them unconcerned about who is more pleasing in beauty. The female- muted - is kept even more protected as she blends into the surroundings. In her blending she relates to that which is around her and can be a part of it easier than the bright red male who captures instant attention upon entry. One needs the other as they gather food and explore their world. Time is there's as they move in unison and worry not of the winds or the world.  It is but theirs.

Whether in couples or co workers some stand out and others blend. Yet neither is more worthy or valuable. Each plays their role; each has unique needs, each is essential for balance and outcomes. Unity relies on us stepping in to our unique space.

What are you pursuing? What role is uniquely yours?

The smoky sky hangs as a backdrop to water soaked trees, whose brilliance is fading. As if holding on for one more encore, the tree colors on the slimming bodies persist in transforming the gray day.  Yellow leaves waving in the small breeze say their final farewell, not ready to surrender to the somber scene.  Transitions in life are paradoxes, giving us a chance to hold and release, let go and welcome. 

What are you holding on to that you need to release? What do you want to welcome in your life?

The steel colored sky with deep blue brush strokes make a stunning backdrop to the multicolored foliage filling in the earth below.  The display of yellows greens and rusts seems endless, covering the land with a hairbrush texture rarely seen. The ground is communicating an eternal quality, while we know it is weeks from shifting again. A glimpse of eternity is enough to carry through the impending winter.

Where do you observe a glimpse of the eternal?

The pink hue rises above the trees, creating a silhouette of branches crowned below a empty expanse. It's as if there is a party just behind the tree line that's lighting up an otherwise dull day. A burst of colorful blooms close by nearly goes unnoticed. It reminds of how we imagine life to be better on the other side of wherever we are. The wonder inspires, but the view eclipses the beauty close at hand.

What is right at hand that you may be missing?

Peeking up across the tree lined horizon, are billows of clouds seen no where else in the bright blue morning sky. Thick and scattered they appear as a white mountain range mirroring the rusty green line just below. As the sun rises, their edges start to glow golden and capture the imagination of a land beyond. This seems to remind that daily life, as lovely as it is, holds a promise of more; of creative imagination, dreams, and potential that keeps us looking further out, past the limits of the known.

 What can you imagine today that you have never let yourself dream before? Take one of your dream and stretch it just a bit further.

The sun radiates with such brilliance across the trees and houses below, washing them out in a sea of white.  The windows reveal millions of specks of dust, dried droplets, and prints limiting the view beyond of the foggy horizon, where the treetops are masked by a misty sheen. There are times in our life when we cannot see clearly. By design or circumstance, we need clarity.  It's in these times that we turn to trusted eyes; and we learn to rely on the inner eyes of the heart, where God offers 20/20 vision. 

What needs clarity in your life right now? What would happen if you looked inward?

The golden pink drapes the shadowed clouds like brilliant jackets . As the majesty of the sun emerges with its crown of rays stretching across the morning sky, it demands attention. It's as if it's saying "look over here," with the most compelling beauty. The multilayered display of vapor stairs climbing upwards, are illuminated in ways that show endless complexity and curves, otherwise never noticed. This reminds that beauty and brilliance raise our eyes and fill us with an unexplained energy and hope. Turning away from the tranny of activity, and toward natural beauty can transform us in a supernatural way.

What beauty is around you that is calling for your attention? 

The robust clouds, shaded with gray, move across the sky in unified fashion, like a choreographed dance of a stage chorus. The sun is so bright the beam between the  windows is a welcome obstruction from the blinding rays. A bird sits like a soldier on duty, upon the rooftop across the street; a witness to this production that seems orderly and of no concern.  Yet, this is a lovely display of pageantry easily missed. The only way to see the movement is to sit completely still.  In life, we are so often occupied with activity, that we miss the meaningful changes that only quiet contemplation has eyes to perceive. 

What might you be missing in the rush of the day? What would getting completely still open up for you?

All across the concrete pavement are darkened imprints of leaves, blown from the trees,  with brown pods stuck to the surface from the dampness of the night.  The white-turned rusty-colored stains, reveal residue from the rough rains and shifting winds of a new season. Above, the birds cluster together, flying atop one another sacrificing pattern for company.  This initiation into fall reminds of how when changes come, scarring our familiar peace with unexpected shifts, the nearness of others brings the stable back to focus, and generates energy to fly into the coming season with strength.

Who brings stable energy in to your life? Who do you need to move closer to today?

The damp morning leaves a mist of gray hanging in the air among the trees. The sleepy scene is interrupted by cars pushing their way through to start their days. The thirsty ground, browning from continuous drier days, seems erect as if awakened again. Even a mist is worthy of gratitude.  This reminds of how appreciation is relative, and the tougher times serve to grow our gratitude.  

What may you be taking for granted that deserves your gratitude today?

The blue jay hops about the tree speckled with orange dots, fluttering inside then coming around to the other, freely moving within.  Inside the tree is a secure welcome home, full of food and covering. After a quick dance around the tree with others, in and out of the green branches, he flies off. It reminds of how home is the stable provision we fly back to gain sustenance. It surrounds us and we freely move about; while it's purpose is to give us strength to fly off.

Where is "home" for you? 

Like pulled cotton a layer of transparent gray lays across the morning sky. Off on the horizon, away from where the sun rises,  is a band of golden gray hinting at a brightness hidden beneath the cotton somewhere. Like a young child playing hide and seek, a bright spot emanates through a pencil thin line of clouds to the left, revealing the suns position, formerly undetectable.  The otherwise dreary looking day, holds within it an invitation to play; to find the joy and hope always there for the persistent perceiver.

How might you add playfulness to your day? What would it takes to persist until you find the joy in your challenging situations?

Flanking both sides of the roadside tree are rose shrubs, popping their brilliant fuschia heads out from their green homes. Like those eager to greet, they cover both ends of the side walk, awaiting with a cheery ready welcome, even in the stillness of the outside scene. No one is walking by. None, but those spying from the window, to notice. Stretches of our lives sometimes are spent waiting, ready, with greatness and beauty to offer. Yet, frustrated anticipation melts away in a moment more satisfying from the persistence that ushered it in. 

What are you longing to offer or others to see? What do you need in order to keep going?

The blue gray sky above the horizon draws curiosity and imagination. Nothing discernible but the inviting color, consistently spread across the ceiling, yet somehow permeable. It reminds of a journey into the unknown. As we make decisions in life, we may sense the grandeur we cannot yet see behind the veil; but until we take a step, we remain just an observer with a dream.

What step do you need to take to break through to the imagined?

The gilded clouds express beautiful complexity within, that with scrutiny, defy the simplistic view of puffs that occasionally form familiar shapes. The breathtaking intricacy of turns and shades paint a backdrop impossible to replicate, a moment unredeemable.  As we zoom in and focus on the true complexity and depth in parts of ourselves and our lives, the reality that this beauty is revealed once in a lifetime stuns, and we don't want to miss a moment. 

What beauty is in this moment that you don't want to miss? 

What would you like to take a closer look at in your life?

Tuesdays's blog that I didn't post:

Amidst the greenery is the tiniest of buds on the oldest of trees. Two small reddish leaves, brand new, are standing like wings on the twig at the top of the tree. Leaning toward the brilliant white sun, the new growth defies the remainder of the aged branches below.  It reminds that even at the end stages of our lives, there is always something to create, offer, or learn; and with life of any dimension, there is regeneration.

What do you want to create? Where is there new life in you?

The silhouette of the treetops, against the sky, hint at the intricacy among the leaves masked in their darkened state. So much detail is hidden as the eye surveys the curvy outline on the whitewashed blue background. What draws the beautiful line across the horizon is the clustered details never seen in full. Like the tree line, much of our work and deeds remain unknown to others, without acclaim, yet distributed in such a way as to create an awe inspiring design, to the unknowing onlooker.

What contributions are you making to others that remain unknown? How can you acknowledge yourself for you work that is unseen?

A celebration of light marks the morning, as the rays illuminate the powdery sky and quiet scene below. Suddenly, as if running from the light, two black birds fly in the opposite direction breaking the stillness; then a bicyclist, upright and peddling with steady determination, heads the same direction, followed by a car rolling out past view;  all one after the other. They were not escaping, rather, the beams illuminating their paths now enabled their movement forward, on their way. Our lives seem to stand still at times, until in a moment inspiration and purpose bring the path to light,  and we are off and running. 

What is your inspiration? Where is the source of your light?

Tiny yellow blossoms are popping out on the tree in the front, like mini propellers decorating the branches. Reddish pods holding life are scattered throughout every green limb, large and small; and the leaves are so full no sign of the trunk can be spied from outside. Another season, and it's preparing to grow and bloom fitting for the times. As we adjust to a new season, what we offer can take on fresh form and color. We posses a God given gift for every season of life.

What is coming alive in you in this season?

On the far end of the sky the faint clouds, barely perceptible, sit in alignment over the tops of the houses. A small black bird flies off in their direction, swaying and moving at a Sunday pace.  As if sitting on the sidelines, the pale white clouds seem spectators to the bright blue summer morning.  We, at times, live on the outskirts of life, sitting back watching, feeling less noticed or essential; yet we may be unknowingly providing a destination of rest for others.

What would it take to be more alive in an area of your life?  What unexpected benefits are coming from being on the sidelines?

A prominent and long jet tail streaks across the sky, cutting through the wispy clouds that surround it.  It's a determined pathway, uninfluenced as it stretches out of sight. Azure blue, popping through the thinning white that scantily clothes the sky, helps define the trail. After a pause, the streak has dispersed, blending in and now absorbed in to the sky scape. It reminds of how we can fly through life with such propulsion and determination, hoping to leave behind a legacy of importance; while legacy may be less meaningful as individual accomplishments than as essential brush strokes in a grander painting.  

What legacy would you like to leave? Are you living who you were made to be?

A bright, whole, green leaf is lying on the dark, newly paved blacktop; life still radiant in it against the hardened, lifeless ground. It draws attention to the entire area it sits on, adding a luster to the street that would otherwise go unnoticed. Its verdant color is still rich though disconnected from its source. It brings the scene alive.   It's doing what we might, if we take the life that's filled us, go out, and bring it to the lifeless. 

Where can you add life today? What is your source of Life?

Past the houses into the sun glazed sky to the east, there is a white haze that mutes any color. It's like the unknown, staring at us, without a hint of what's next. Looking away, the familiar lies all around. Trees, homes, lawns, sidewalks the same as every morning. Suddenly, the sun breaks past the corner of the house and the bright bulb overtakes the scene, casting eyes away from the haze to spotlight all before it. We can get lost and anxious in the coming unknown, but this reminds to turn away from distracting worry and see what is before us come to life.

What is getting missed as you worry or are preoccupied with the unknown future?

 The leafy limbs of the deciduous tree spread amply over the vehicle below, leaning so that they provide complete protection. On its other side, the tree is nearly bare, broken limbs crawling with green mold, with the inside of the truncated branches exposed. The once formidable plant seems fully committed to living out its purpose regardless of its condition or limitations. Its highest branch now a perch for the tiny bird on its way, the tree's brokenness has not in the least disqualified it from serving.

How can you live out your purpose, even with your present limitations?

Basking in the bright sunlight,  the leaves of the large tree appear to shimmer like gold coins, as the uninhibited sun lights up the treetops all across the street.  The remainder of each plant stands shaded, darker, hidden almost as the glory goes to that which is illuminated. In the distance, the peaks of the trees lit up like candles, fill the valley, while the trunks and stems, lie beneath, out of sight. It reminds how in life there is much we miss that remains in the shadows.  We see a bit, and yet there is so much more to explore, in others, in issues, and even within ourselves. 

What would you like to explore further today? What is shaded in your life that you would like to bring in to the light?

The cloud covered sky with subtle billows and strokes of gray has dimensions seen only by a longer gaze. Out across the horizon a ledge of clouds stands out as a border from one end of the scene to the next. A bird flies with furious speed, wings flapping double time away, into the distance toward the ledge. The speed defies purpose, and he races out of sight. We are like that a lot. Speeding through, seeming to be heading somewhere with racing speed, but not quite sure; and missing the subtleties that often bridge our lives together with meaning. A slower pace and longer gaze may just bring it all into focus.

What happens inside you when you take a deep breath and linger there? What might you see?

The attached roofs across the street appear like uneven steps, each with its own color, texture and size.  They lay in the awakening sunshine with their own features that set each apart.  One with lattice hanging down, another with two tone shingles, one black and simple, another with a small chimney sprouting from it. They have the appearance of individuality, yet all point upward and are connected as one. We too each have a unique impression to convey, yet it's in our connection to one another that this difference stands out. 

What is unique about you? Who do you need to connect with for this uniqueness to be magnified?

The bright red blooms poke their heads out from the shrub as a dog pops it's head out of the car window. Against the concrete background the flowers seem out of place, full of life, vibrant in color and very alert. The pavement below is hard and speckled, and colorless.  Even the shrub these wide open roses are sitting on contrasts with the tender petals, with its sharp thorns hidden behind firm auburn and green leaves. How does tenderness co exist in such a hardened world? Gentleness, tender beauty, kindness and enthusiasm seem out of place at times, against the calloused world. Yet, life itself resides within them.

What is the gentle side of you wanting to say to you today? What would you do differently if you didn't need to be so strong?

The sky which looks a pool of blue today, displays gradually increasing intensity of pigment. The pale blue stain hovering over the tree line makes the treetops appear to hold a blueish tint. An ascending gaze captures a deeper hue until the center of the endless canopy is rich in color you could swim in. So much in our lives hinges on how deep we want to go.  Greater intensity produces deeper experiences.  And spiritually, the higher up we look, the richer and deeper the joy.

What is an area of your life where you want or need to go deeper?

The metal tower, with dishes that appear as pock marks on a body, stretches into the sky so that the tip fades and disappears into the morning fog. It towers over the trees below. A small unique plant stands erect below; it's trunk like the thin tower above, and it stretches up in its own natural way. It has a head like a broom, and leans just a bit to the right. With all of its humble markings, it seems just as it ought. Both are made with intention, but the plant, though less dominant and easily eclipsed, wears the suit of authenticity, having grown naturally and remaining connected to the world around it. 

We tend to build images of ourselves that serve important purposes. Yet, it is our authentic selves that carry the truth and wisdom that connects us to the world around us.

What image do you need to move out of the way to bring more of your authentic self to others?

The gray mist creates silhouettes of the trees in the distance.  The white sky above them seems without dimension. A black bird flies across it quickly, as if suddenly aware of how he contrasts, and is unwittingly the center of attention. There are times when all seems dull, and the smaller things in life, typically ignored, seem magnified. Dull moments can bring forth what's hidden underneath and give air time to that which is taken for granted. Nothing in God's creation, or our lives, is meaningless.

What do you take for granted? What would happen if you gave honor to it?

The bird with the commanding view, stands on the rooftop, close to the earth and near to the heavens. None of it belongs to him, but all of it is provision for him to observe and access. His head erect, he switches views from one side to the next.  Another bird flies in and replaces this one. It's focus is on the roof shingles. It searches with intensity, never looking up. We are like these birds, sometimes so lost in the search and details that we miss the larger opportunities around us; then suddenly when reminded we lift our heads and see the endless opportunities awaiting.

What opportunity may be awaiting you, if you lift your head?

Sunrise on the ocean

Orange streamers stretching from one side of the eastern sky to the other, with hues of pink and gray accents, signal the emergence of the sun. As we wait, clouds and colors shift in preparation, while some remain pointed toward the center, like spotlights, holding the space for the star.  A flame of yellow peeks through the purple and orange shield, while the water and sand reflect the sky's brilliance. In the grand finale of this elaborate show, the fiery orange ball arises in continuous motion to greet the day and it's spectators. In moments, a calming blue washes over the open sky, and darkness is gone.

What are you preparing for in your life that you are ready to see emerge? 

Spiritually, what role do you want to play in the grander stage of life's culmination?

The seaside morning appears basted in a gentle white glaze, accenting the sun filled clouds. With intention, the sun bursts through, rising to its purpose; and the warmth penetrates the air and sand below.  It reminds that all God creates is brimming with intention. It's discovering it, and standing in it, that changes the wayward to the whole, the possible to its potential.

In what way do you want to live intentionally today?

High above the ocean, to the left, a cluster of clouds hangs with a hazy sun, and opaque sky. To the right the sky is a brilliant blue canopy, with an infinite quality. The contrast is stark. Which to linger on is a choice.  It's reflective of our thoughts. It's so easy to stay focused on the clouds. But with a slight repositioning, endless blue dominates the view. 

What brilliant, positive thoughts are waiting in line for your attention, behind the cloudy ones?

The clouds hover above in paisley fashion, designing the natural ceiling with distinct detail.  And suddenly the patterns below jump out. The horizontal lined patterns on the houses below, the curved leaves, and the soldier like grass standing erect in vertical lines, contrasting the seemingly random pattern of the mulch surrounding the tree. Patterns from nature abound in all, and we mirror them in our designs. Creativity is designing new patterns that God has hidden for us to find.

What patterns do you see in your own life? What is a new pattern you would like to create?

The wispy gray clouds are passing by, as if drawn by a magnet in the east. The variation of the shades of gray sweeping over the trees is stunning.  The fog which is settled over the horizon adds yet another hue.  It's surprising how so much depth and beauty emerges from a nearly colorless scene. And in flies the male cardinal. The contrast startles in giddiness. Even with eyes to see the best, it seems God has better. His plans and desires can be startlingly greater than what we settle for.

What would happen if you let your dream grow bigger?

A female cardinal hops around the interior of the tree nearby.  She flies from tree to tree as if trying them out, landing atop the tallest, on the highest perch, silhouetted against the sky. Majestic. She knows her place.  She sees what she deserves. She doesn't hide herself from shame or inadequacy. She explores and chooses the best, never aware whether she dare deserve it. 

What do you want to say to the voice telling you you don't deserve it?

Standing square in the center of the green carpeted ground, the stately tree stretches it's arms across the sky. Appearing balanced and impressive, a closer look reveals a tiny branch curved around, in nearly a full circle, contrasting sharply with the upward strong straight limbs jettisoning themselves out from the trunk. It's as if the small branch did an "about face," heading in the opposite direction. It's interesting pattern appears out of place from the rest of its company, but compelling to the observer. We can't always take the straight path. It compromises our true identity. The curves that express our journey may be small and pale in comparison to others more noteworthy. Yet they will undoubtedly affirm our destiny, and attract the eye of the discerning.

What curve in your life's journey gives you inner strength?

The sun is shining across the light blue sky, while birds chase one another disappearing into the distance. A mix of chirping offers background music, as the ends of the tree branches sway to a gentle steady breeze. A summer morning opens the door to hope and opportunity, as all seem to be playing their parts. When peace moves in and everything feels in its right place, we settle in to renew energy lost elsewhere in life. 

Life is self renewing if we keep our eyes ready to see the sun.

What hope does this day bring for you?

Vertical clouds drawn down the middle of the sky stand out.  The streaks look out of place, laying in the opposite direction of all the horizontal clouds on every side. They form an image of a crown, with a translucent quality that appears temporary.  It's funny how we notice that which takes a different path, goes in a different direction, dares to stand out. Even if for a brief time, there is power in that difference.

When have you dared to be different, and gone in your own direction? What would happen if you did that now?

A gray mist colors the day.  Breaking open between the clouds above is a pond of brilliant blue. It's eminence is shining, taking charge of the day. It's calling for attention, contrasting with the dulled scene beneath. Color is on the way. Power is coming forth to shift the atmosphere. With eyes upward, we cannot miss the potential in each day, or each one of us. 

What potential do you have that is wanting to break through?

The tree across the street stands tall and stately, growth pushing out in every direction. A closer look reveals an intricate network of brown branches up at the top, hidden by the green regalia.  A cluster of spindly sticks branching off from a central limb shows a much more complex characteristic. It's less attractive, but far more interesting. Like each of us, in true complexity masked by the surface, lies our vulnerable depth. Within and underneath is what allows the outward to exist. Not as pretty, but longer lasting and far more interesting. 

What would happen if you showed others more of your hidden depth?

The pavement is darkened from the nights rain, but the dawns early light reveals the breaking of the clouds, with bright patches growing slowly across the sky. On the horizon the fog lingers across the trees.  Soon a translucent puff of  darkened smoke pushes gently in front of the white. The pink glow stretched below it is swallowed up in gray, and the showers begin. Like a faucet turned quickly, they end as suddenly as they came.  A pink hue permeates the gray, and light returns. 

Like in life, change arrives suddenly. Disappointment descends. Yet as suddenly, and still predictably, God restores the joy, and we see the purpose of the rain.  

Rains come for a while but they never stay. They are outdone by the light of God that is always restored. 

When has your hope been restored, just as you thought it was drained?

The sky is almost white from the sun washing over it, like a blank piece of paper. The trees looking down at their own shadows, at first glance, all appear to look alike. In focus, the edges of their shadows form unique artwork.  Without warning the shadows disappear.  Down the street a light green tree stands center stage, sunlit and brilliant in its unique lime green hue.  It proudly eclipses the house behind. As the sun shifts, the tree fades in to the background, yielding to the trees in front whose qualities are more pronounced in the filtered light. It reminds that unexpected changes and opportunities to be grasped await daily. God has drawn a new day--it seems a travesty to view it the same as all others. 

What is unique about today? How will you make the most of it?

The dim morning hangs outside, as if waiting.  The treetops subtly moving, signaling the rain that is on the way, but still far off.  The clouds above are tightly knit together, bracing. A mist in the distance covers the cluster of trees like a summer blanket. Anticipation is an interesting preoccupation. Worry anticipates.  Hope anticipates. Is a refreshing rain on the way to offer drink, and help the flowers and vegetation grow, or is a downpour coming that will usher in floods, postpone picnics, and lock play indoors?

Maybe all of the above, and perspective will determine the outcome.

What are you anticipating? What perspective does it represent?

The sun is slowly growing stronger, drawing a clearer contrast between the shadow of the shrub and the warming sidewalk. The shadow stands out, taking on a life of its own. The sun emerging from the clouds creates a softened image of concrete, transforming it into a beach below.  As we are thankful for the warmth that enters our lives unexpectedly, the hidden saboteurs are exposed; and and even the difficult no longer possesses the intimidating qualities it once had. The sun overwhelms. 

What warmth in your life are you thankful for? What impact does a thankful perspective have on your challenges?

The sky is a pool of blue this morning, it's endless quality front and center. The large tree standing as upright as possible with arms stretched to the sky, seems so insignificantly small in contrast. So many intricacies below such an open clear expanse. It reminds of the contrast we live in between the complex and the simple. Too much to think about or take in below, our gaze moves to the heavens. It offers a soaking simplicity that permeates the soul and spirit, and restores the senses to see the complex.  Simplicity has restorative power.  So does heaven. 

What simplicity can you seek out to soak in? 

The sweeping purples and grays of the clouds against the pastel blue sky add dimension to the otherwise clear canopy above.  The green trees and houses are accented before this backdrop, their grainy texture looking worn against such perfection; the kind of wear called "character." I'm drawn to the smooth beauty of the sky but intrigued by the quality of the greenery. Both have beauty, both hold unique attraction. How often we strive for what we perceive as perfection, but uniqueness is what draws attention.  A possession none is without.

How are you unique? In what way is this uniqueness displayed?

One bird chases another into the tree, out of the tree, playfully sparring and they fly off. Below a couple walk their dogs together, arms motioning in light banter as they await their dogs exploration.  One dog follows the other to investigate together something they are privileged to notice with their uniquely keen senses. Relationship is everywhere. And it exists at the center of all life.  Even the older man coiffed in a bright green vest riding solo on a bike quickly past, is in relationship. The bicycle, the road, nature and himself are all partners with him as he moves along. We crave and exist for relationship. This is God's desire from His creation.

What do your relationships say about you? How are you intentional about creating them?

The tree standing straight and tall in the ground has a small circle of grass around the trunk. The turf stands out as having a richer quality. Lighter in shade, mixed with darker brown from the dirt beneath it betrays the grass' unified appearance. It reveals the space where the tree long ago had been placed in the ground and the dirt had been replaced back in to stand the tree upright. This is much like when we make a change in our lives.  What was dug up has shifted. Even when we replace it, it is never quite the same. It can't be, or it would not serve its true purpose or add new beauty to life. 

What have you dug up lately? How will it make you stand firmer in the future?

Across the street a rooftop glows in the brilliant sunlight of the morning after the thunder. Every imperfection on the black gradient is illuminated for all to see. Warping, uneven shingles, lines where the seams are coming apart, all normally hidden in the typical daily perception, now shouting and fully exposed. The irony is not missed in our lives.  We can hide our flaws, ills, and even shame, in the darkness.  But, when we step into the light of truth about ourselves and our life we feel, and often are, vulnerable and exposed. Yet growth, change, and health require us to do so. To enjoy the sun we need to reveal our imperfections.

What might the light reveal in you?  What can you do do embrace it, or change it?

Along the sidewalk each slab of stone lies cleanly next to another.  The morning sunlight reveals the pock marks over each in a display establishing its uniqueness. Leaning in, the view expands to capture a tall flower, standing 2 ft upright, and pointing its blossom to the sky, and gleaming in the sun's ray. The orange flower has another bloom, tucked neatly next to it, not quite opened yet, like a mother and her child;  part of the same stem yet each unique.

Nothing made alive in God is perfectly identical to another, anywhere in this universe. Even in mans desire to create conformity and predictability, there is variation once life touches it. Creation's reflection of Creator.

How are you unique, and what power does that bring to your life? 

Droplets splattered on the window, residue of yesterday's rain lit up in the sunlight of the morning, appear like tears on the glass. With the beauty of the new day increasing they start to shine like decorative sprinkles on the scene behind.  I'm reminded how the joyful times we experience form new perspectives on the rainy days of our lives.  Memories of those times create a screen through which we see the light.  Maybe that's the point of them.  

What challenge or sadness in your life has enriched your perspective? 

The watercolor painted sky speckled with flying black spots paints a picture of stability, with straight brush strokes from one end of view to the other. The airplane ascending in the distance dares to disturb the stable beauty but cannot, as it drifts from sight. These clouds, appearing immobile, remind of the predictable in life.  How precious they are to us in a dynamically changing world, that introduces chaos unexpectedly. What can we count on? Only the artist.

What is keeping the predictable in your life? How is it serving you?

High in the sky a tiny silver speck leaves a long tail of white as it travels across the brilliant blue. Into the cloud it disappears, and it's gone; a momentary mark on its way, an impression to be noticed, while still here. Our lives can be like that. We sense our smallness when we preview the world around. But while we have the opportunity, we can leave a trail that is greater than our being, for all to see, that may change the patterns of this world, before it fades into the the heavens. 

Courage is contagious when it is for a good cause. Who is your role model and why?

More from "out my window..."

A chair sits on the grass facing a tree, waiting to be filled. The tree has a hollowed trunk eaten by decay from illness. The tree is sick, dying slowly, and the chair keeps vigil. Like God watches and sits with us, we, too, need to fill that chair, and concern ourselves with those who need our attention and love during the latter part of life, as transformation to to the next begins. Attention is love, and witness is affirmation. Comfort is found in presence, when attended with love.

A view from my morning window.  Food for thought:

Straight ahead a mourning dove, perched in a rotting tree, turns his head to his own back and begins to preen himself.  Picking and pulling, he cleans himself up then swiftly disappears from the tree. Across the street, the top of a tree otherwise hidden behind the house waves at the sky, as if trying to get someone's attention. 

We desire to be hidden where few would look for us, as we clean ourselves up. Then, as we stand clean and proud, being hidden frustrates, and we clamor for attention. Imagine the freedom if we stood in the light of self acceptance, in all states of being.  No one could miss God's artwork.

In front of the window, a pod "helicopter" spins downward as if enjoying the ride as it tumbles away from the trees. With no tree left with these pods anywhere in sight, it must have blown off the roof where it sat awhile. Across the street lies a bagged newspaper lying in the sidewalk, waiting. In a driveway, a trash can sits next to the lawn and flowering shrub where it must have accumulated brush days earlier, waiting to be emptied. All around us are things and people waiting for movement; waiting for life, for their moment to spin and be fully engaged in their purpose. Why wait? Do we only get one spin off the tree, or might we land on surface after surface if we jump off sooner...