I had a beautiful drive this morning…open road, blue skies, full heart. I was going to visit a friend… I spent a couple of moments alone after arriving…standing still outside and listening to the wind and the green. I was also watching a chickadee duck in and out behind the leaves of an especially lush tree. I assured her that I meant no harm and would come no closer–go ahead and reveal yourself, wee, winged, bearer of spirit and joy. She came out from behind an upright filigreed screen and for the briefest moment, we saw each other–almost like we were seeing into each other. Fleeting and felt deeply. Knocking next door and connecting with the friend, we took off on a walk on a nearby trail and at some moment a red-winged black bird flew across our path with wings wide and the scarlet swath of feathers revealed. It reminded me of the conversation while we were walking–stories always present–and sometimes shared. The insights into a greater fullness of knowing.

On the way home, I couldn’t stop thinking about all three encounters. It wasn’t something for a poem…not this time…more of a prayer:

Let wonder wake me throughout the day;
Let gratitude be my day’s end sighing;
Let rest cradle me until, renewed,
l again behold you at work, at play,
loving all that you created and naming it Good.