The Dance~

Yesterday, after accompanying my mother
to her eye doctor appointment
in a nearby town,
I was able to spend a few short moments
strolling the bank of the river
that runs through this quaint mountain community.

As I breathed in the crisp, damp air
and tried to soak in every bit
of the breathtaking display of Fall color,
I found myself dancing with a beautiful crane.

I first spotted it on a rock
in the middle of the river.
As I strolled along the bank,
peering through trees and leaves of gold
trying to get closer,
I lost sight of it.

Then,
retracing my steps
back to my original viewing spot,
there it was,
still on the rock.

As I moved closer once again, -
this time,
it took to the air -
but, only high enough to soar over the water
in a way that was pure beauty in motion.

And, it was then,
I found myself dancing with it -
moving this way
and then that way
just to catch a glimpse.

And, it was as if
in this brief moment of time,
we were both caught up in
praise to our Lord.

A dance of celebration for
the beauty of Fall,
the beauty of sight,
the beauty of life,
the very beauty of being alive.

And, I was -
truly alive!

Then, as quickly as this creature
had taken to the air,
it rested on a rock right by me.

It was only after the dance
that I was able to capture this photo -
a beautiful memento
of so much more
than just a bird,
but rather a beautiful moment
of praise to our God.

Listen Hard~

If you haven't been,
if you aren't already -
listen hard to the words of
your father and your mother,
your sister and your brother,
your son and your daughter,
a grandparent or a friend,
your husband or your wife.

Listen hard to what they say
and what they don't say.
And then, as best you can,
tuck each treasured word
and each shared conversation
into your heart.

For there will be days up ahead
when you will need these very words
to come alongside and help you
answer a problem,
understand a reaction,
solicit a response,
recognize a need,
provide an opinion,
determine a decision,
or simply strengthen your resolve.

For it is in listening,
we understand.

And it is in understanding,
we connect.

And it is in connecting,
we respond.

And it is in responding,
we act.

And it is in acting,
we are able to
transform a situation,
touch a heart,
change a life.

It starts with listening hard
to those around us.

Then, listening hard to our God
speaking to us
about those around us.

And,
for God to
transform our situation,
touch our heart,
change our life,
we simply and earnestly
and diligently and obediently
meed to listen hard to our God
speaking to us about us.

It all starts
with us choosing
to listen hard.