The pink light rises above the horizon, cheering up the gray sky as it melts into it. A bright silver speck moves across the expanse slowly, lit by the bulb just below the line of trees preparing to emerge. Suddenly, thousands of black winged birds fly across the length of the visible sky, migrating to their warmer home for winter. Unaware, yet on purpose, they move together in a band of unity that delights and is at the same time breathtaking. What can we learn from them, and the splendor of the morning they rise to meet?

Who do you need to partner with to multiply your influence and impact?
What positive affect might you be having on others, of which you are not yet aware?

Without moving I see the shimmer on the face of the leaves in the sunlight. The side of the tree hidden from the rays sits still in the background. There are berries clustered on the stems, between the green leaves, but attention goes to those lit in brightness on the other side. We have our times to shine and our times when we are waiting in the background, ready and able but not yet shining openly. Whether shimmering in the morning light, or hidden in the shadow, meaningfulness doesn't change. It is not who else acknowledges who we are or what we do, it is that we are and that we do, that matters. Meaning and purpose are inward and upward. Outward is just an added treat.

Where have you been seeking attention or recognition that you can turn upward?
How do you want to acknowledge yourself today?

The Moments We Miss...

The walk to and from;

The conversation of where we'll go next;

The waiting for someone to get ready;

The preparation for hosting

The just-prior-to-bedtime routine, 

And many more...

So much of life happens in between.

These are the missed moments, craving honor.

 Best Memories are found not in the events but in the life that

Surrounds them.

The quiet kiss of thanks from your spouse,

The clarity of understanding that opens as you sit,

The musing about why you love someone, as they speak,

The silent prayer for a friend,

The momentary locked gaze and smile of acceptance

The security of the hug before bed.

Life can be missed preparing for life. Shift focus today to live in between.

The lush season when the flowers are in bloom, the grass is upright and green, and the trees stand erect holding out their blossoms and leaves in full glory--a time that moves our eyes away from the oil stained cracking pavement, or the haze out in the distance. We're hard put to find the spoiled and darkened, because beauty captures our gaze and refuses to be upstaged. Oh that our entire lives might be this way, allowing our spirits to dance more freely in that which is always present in one form or another. But, we subjugate the beauty to the urgent struggles of the demanding critic. What might happen if we see with new eyes today?

 What beauty might distract you into joy today?

The evening rain is frozen in droplets all across the tree, leaving it glistening in the morning sun. With its unexpected beauty on display, it is not static. The bright sun that reveals its glory is also melting the ice almost imperceptibly. Raindrops held through the darkness on the branches are finally making it to their destination. The brief interruption on their journey brought extravagant beauty to a dormant and leafless growth, and collective purpose to the drops' descent.

Purpose can be found in every step, even the delays and the darkness. We are always changing, reforming and becoming.

What might be the purpose in the delay or change you are facing today?