We are fortunate to live in the middle of a park. At least it feels that way sometimes, with the ongoing parade of deer, coming in various packs. Every bird under the sun, eating at our feeders, banging their little beaks on our trees. A large pond and a small pond, filled with fish of all sizes. Every beast that puts it little paw prints in this wildlife region is nice enough to visit our place, from time to time. Everything from wild turkeys to singing frogs.
Let’s not forget our very own goats, chickens, geese, cat, and dogs.
Yesterday, Mary was reading a book on the lower patio near the Koi pond. The sliding door into the lowest level of the house was open, a fresh air exchange. I went down for a moment to chat, and in the midst of our conversation, a baby squirrel sprinted out of our house. Out — of our house. Two seconds later, our girl Ollie came bounding out of the same door, on the heels of the baby squirrel.
Ollie was no match, and the squirrel found safety in the height of a tree.
You can’t buy tickets to that event anywhere else on earth.
A moment later, two large dragonflies, ever-so-connected came flying by. Little smiles on their dragonfly faces.
The randomness of these events in nature, the sudden swooping down of a flicker, or a mourning dove, or perhaps the scurrying of a chipmunk across a rock, can remind us of the randomness of life.
These moments are unexpected by us. We don’t see them coming, and we certainly can’t control when a fish will jump out of the water, or when a frog will jump in. But when we see it happen, we rejoice a little inside. It is like a little glimmering gift.
At the same time, nature can be harsh in its unexpectedness. A storm could roll in and be destructive, for instance. The arbitrary events of life can be the same way. Sometimes, they are moments of joy and happy surprises. Other times they are sad, or scary, or even hurtful. They can be both.
The best thing, I think we can do, is to be aware in all these times. To notice, to watch, to look, and to learn. For the “thing” — whatever it is — will be here for a short time, and then it will be gone. It all can go so many ways for us. We might fall, but we get back up. Or make a new path, where there was no path before. Sometimes, we jump, not knowing if we’ll make it to the other side. Or there are moments, when we sit still, look around, and simply feel glad.
Today might bring any of it.
I am the kind of person who likes to keep things all lined up. I like to have order and predictability. I have a true appreciation of the routine, the pattern, the knowing.
Somedays life will give us that. A row of solid rocks on firm ground. Other days, it will swirl, and flow, and rush by like a sweeping river.
And it is best when we are able to be with both. To see it all, and appreciate the things that occur, with no help from us.
It’s all a big lesson that we have to live.
So we may as well pay attention and pick up as much as we can.
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“Life is trying things to see if they work.” -Ray Bradbury
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“Never let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game.” -Babe Ruth
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“Life is a succession of lessons which must be lived to be understood.” -Ralph Waldo Emerson
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