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Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Light-bulb moments
Lacking inspiration for a topic, by the time this
morning arrived, I had decided not to write a LifeSparkle newsletter this month because I didn't feel I had anything
worth saying. I doubted that anyone would notice its absence so I had crossed it off my list of things to do (of
which there are many!).
I sat down this morning
for my usual 'quiet time', which sometimes provides an opportunity for meditation, sometimes prayer, and sometimes
simply a few quiet moments to enjoy the beautiful landscape outside my window. My spirits rose as I marvelled
at the many shades of green and bronze that are bursting forth in the garden and among the trees that line the still
waters of the canal. Yet again I felt gratitude welling within me that I am able to enjoy such amazing beauty from
the comfort of my back room!
The only blot
on the landscape is a telegraph pole standing immediately opposite. Yet even this "blot" offers a perfect
perch for a magnificent wood pigeon to bask in the warm sunshine and survey the world around him. This morning,
however, the top of the pole was vacant because the pigeon was busy collecting (very large!) twigs for his nest in the hedge
next door.
Instead, another bird was 'walking'
up the pole clearly silhouetted against the hazy distant hills. I looked more closely at the angular
outline and realised it was a woodpecker! Since we moved to Devon nearly 5 years ago I have seen him fewer than
half-a-dozen times and yet here he was, climbing up the telegraph pole not 50 yards away, pecking sharply now and
then as he went, his white, black and red feathers gleaming in the early morning sunlight. What joy!
As I watched him I couldn't help but be curious
about why he turns up when he does, for there seems to be no rhyme or reason - no pattern to his sporadic appearances.
Then the thought occurred to me that possibly he is a regular visitor and it is simply that I don't happen
to notice him except on rare occasions. But just because I don't see him doesn't mean he doesn't visit.
Ever since I was a small child I have sought solace
in Nature and it dawned on me this morning that one of the reasons why I do this is because Nature nearly always
teaches me something. Today's lesson caused me to wonder what else I'm not noticing. What else am I missing
or not paying attention to? What other unseen delights and blessings around me am I taking for granted or not even
recognising?
Just because I don't see the angels
doesn't mean they're not watching over me.
May
springtime and the Easter holiday bring you much joy.
"Come forth into the light of things; let Nature be your teacher."
William Wordsworth (1770 to 1850)
British poet
"All through my life, the new sights of nature
made me rejoice like a child."
Marie
Curie (1867 – 1934)
Polish born French chemist
"Far away there in the sunshine are my highest aspirations. I may not reach
them but I can look up and see their beauty, believe in them and try to follow them."
Louisa May Alcott (1832 – 1888)
American novelist
4:26 pm gmt
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