Immersed in Life

I do not spend enough time surrounding myself with those things and experiences that are positive, are joyful or peaceful.   It seems that life is full of the loud, the distressing, the worrying, the anxious, and the negative.  They are so easy to capture the attention.   Let's face it, part of my likes the drama; likes the complaining; likes the ups and downs of it all.....that is...until I don't anymore.

My ego likes that drama.   It thrives on it.  It likes defining itself as what is their to oppose it.   It likes complaining.   It has fun being miserable.   It justifies it's own existence this way.   I am tired of it.

What brought me to this point was the many times that I have purposely sought life-affirming situations, encounters, people.  The comparison between the two brought me to the point of choosing even more such situations.

That is what this blog is going to be about.   Immersing myself in life.  

--------------------------------------------------------------------

I had a wonderful experience by a lake.  It was a fall day; the sun partially hidden by the clouds; the rays bouncing off of the ripples caused by the wind.  Geese were floating in the water; occasionally dipping completely in to snag a fish or some small morsel of food underwater. 

I had brought a small, folding chair with me and a book.   I set it up next to the shore and opened the book, preparing to read.   I saw a couple of geese harassing some families that were to be fed.   Wow...pushy geese.   One caught me eye though.   He (She) was close to the shore and just looking at me.   He didn't move from his spot, just kept looking.   I dropped my head and started reading.   Whenever I looked up, there he was looking.   A smile crept on my face.  This went on for about 10 minutes. 

Finally, out of nowhere I just said out loud to the goose, "OK, if you are going to keep me company today, you might as well get out of the water and come join me here."   Nothing happened.

I read a few more pages, and looked up.   The geese was closer to the shore.   I got this little thrill, but shrugged it off and went back reading.  When I looked up again, the goose was on the shore, not ten feet from me.  "Great.  Glad you could join me," I said.

Just then a car drove up to the parking area and the goose took off, back into the water and quickly to the center of the lake. 

For a while I did not know what to make of this.  Whereas before, I would have attributed this behavior to the fact the goose thought I had food and that was why it came out of the water.   But I chose to interpret it as a moment of that goose understanding me and I understanding it; that neither of us were a threat to the other; that we both just wanted some companionship for a while.

This moment recharged me.  I felt good, happy, even joyful the rest of that day.   Such a simple thing.  

--------------------------------------------------------------------

Another moment happened when I was visiting my church.  They have a Mother's Day Out program where Tuesdays and Thursdays they have classes with pre-k children.   I love these days, when I can stop by, because the whole church is full of life.  

Little children are so full of laughter, discovery, and unabashed wonder.   I talk with some of them, some of the teaches, some of the church staff.   It actually doesn't matter what I do when I am there.   The life that surrounds me, sinks in.  It lightens my mood, recharges my spirit.  

I find that when I play piano there, new tunes, new arrangements, new compositions just flow out of my hands.  I know it is not my skill or talent, but rather that after having breathed in the life around me, I exhale that life out in playing music, singing, praying.   It seems more natural than anything else.

During one of these visits, the kids were just getting up after their nap, and I sat down in one of the chairs in the nap room.  Suddenly, I found myself surrounded by about ten children, all talking at once.  The first one said that he had a dog.  This started all the others describing the animals they had.   I kept it going by saying that I had a cat, and found that children have firm opinions about whether a cat or dog is the best pet to have.

It was just amazing that I became this focus for all these children; like they had all these things to share and suddenly a new adult was there to tell all of their stories.  Again, I left this encounter feeling great for the rest of the day.

--------------------------------------------------------------------

I know that these are simple things; simple moments in time.  Yet, they are life.  Nature, living things, children, friends.  These are all the connections that make life rich, that recharge my batteries.

When I compare this with what I surround myself with normally, I truly wonder why I don't make the choice to experience life more often and strife less.