A Gift for Kind Travelers

today's small stone: 
We are all passengers in life. We never know what is over the next rise. 

linking to:

a river of stones

We like to predict, but in truth, we can't know exactly what will greet us on the other side of the mountain. And there is ALWAYS another mountain. We have no control over what the view will be, but we can choose how wide to open our eyes, or we can choose to close them. And if our vision is impaired by birth, illness or accident or darkened by our own lids in anxiety, we can listen to the sounds that surround us, the sound of our own blood pumping through our hearts, our breath out and in. And if we cannot hear because our ears no longer function well, or cannot listen because we are afraid, perhaps we can feel the temperature of the air upon a patch of exposed skin somewhere on our sacred bodies and trust that even a draft of wind, warm or cool is a kiss goodbye from the mountain we've recently crossed or a gentle "hello" reminder that right now, we are alive and awake. And if our limbs are numbed or our skin, because we have been injured or are ill or are hiding from ourselves, from our own senses, there is a deeper knowing, energy flowing beneath the surface of our physicality that we can fall into and float and rest...yes rest in the grace of "this moment." We are all passengers in life. We never know what is over the next rise...but we can always choose to find a way to pay attention to what is happening now. 

Sometimes, we need to pull over for a moment and wait for a kind stranger to show us directions when we get lost. I pour out my thoughts and feelings, imagery and awareness into this blog and I become the kind stranger for myself.  But I am never alone here, there are always old friends and new traveling companions beside me on this road as well, making life less lonely and frightening, teaching me, guiding me, listening and looking with open compassionate hearts. I thank you from the depths of my own heart.

I feel so deeply honored (astonished, actually!) that at this time there are over 200 people from around the world who follow this blog. Nearly every day, at least 100 of you stop by to visit (again, astonishing to me!) and so tomorrow I will randomly select a commenter from today's post, to send today's image to as a 5x7 matted print. (or, if you have a favorite from a past post let me know I would be happy to have a different one printed for you.) I am ever grateful to be on this road with all of you sojourners, who have generously sat here with me on this blog. You are bright spots in my sky, opening my heart more fully every day to the goodness inherent in the world, Divine sparks embedded everywhere. 

I wish I had more energy (and time in a day) so that I could visit more of you more often...but I know that I cannot do that, it is not realistic...and when I do drop by, I want to be really present for you, reading your words, hearing them, viewing your amazing art and photos, seeing them...hearing and seeing YOU. I'm doing the best I can and hope you understand that is not a lack of interest or desire to connect, when I don't respond to your thoughtful comments with return visits or personal messages. I am doing the best I can. Perhaps as the light continues to grow and the days lengthen my strength will be invigorated and my stamina will extend with the hours of the day. 



gentle steps,
Laura