The air felt like it was near freezing. The wetness was still hanging on from the storm earlier in the day. The wind blowing off of the snow capped mountains insured that I had no illusions of warmth. As I sat in the hot swirling water of the spa, it was almost perfect. The one missing element was the dark blue canopy of stars. The low hanging clouds continued to obscure one’s upward view. Everything else was extraordinarily crisp.
As I reflected on the best of life that continues to surface in the daily chaos, I lost track of time. A combination of jetlag and reflection took me a long way from where I was. A sudden gust of wind jerked me out of my silence. The world around me was the same except for the canopy. The clouds had been blown away, replaced by a endless dark sea dotted with stars.
It was a magical moment. Hot and cold, awareness mixed with anxiety, an overwhelming sense of peace and assurance. God was here. In and among the mistakes, failures, and realities of life, God had chosen to remind me of the good in my life. It was a rare moment that I wished I could repeat at the end of every day. For now, I could only echo David’s words; “I’m thanking you, God, from a full heart, I’m writing the book on your wonders.” (Psalm 9.1)
Even in my reflection of the day after, I am struck by the awareness that came in that moment. Is there anything that blocks another occurrence? It might be different, but the elements of meditation, awareness, and thankfulness could be the same. Even as I pause to consider, I realize that God is always the same. The variable in this reflection is my heart. Last night I was open, ready to let God within give me something more. Yes the elements were working in my favor, yet in the end, being open was a choice. I could repeat it, regularly and with no hesitation. This could be daily.
