Tonight I decided to brave the elements and walk to a meeting I had at the school. I started out driving, and when I almost got stuck in the driveway, I decided that the temperature was such that my fingertips wouldn't turn black on contact. So I swung my car in park, ran in the house for a stocking cap, and then trudged the snow in the dark. Actually, by some grace of God, nearly every sidewalk was shoveled and my "trudging" consisted more of normal walking on cement and jumping over two snowdrifts. Hardly the brutal hike I had imagined when I first hopped into my car.
In fact...it was beautiful. I know I throw that word around like it's free candy, but I really mean it.
With an audible gasp I realized I miss nighttime. (Then I realized I made an "audible gasp" and had to look around to make sure I was alone.) I miss being outside at night, which I so often was in Northern Ireland. I miss the brisk sea air hitting my face, and a sky full of bright shining stars surrounding my family as we would walk back from dinner in the Main House. I miss a brilliant glowing moon lighting my path, and the inevitable line coming from Dustin's lips, "We are going to steal...." followed by Miles shouting "...THE MOON!" as he points up at the sky. (Despicable Me reference for those who haven't seen it 273 times.) I miss the twinkling lights of a town in the distance as seen from the edge of a cliff. I miss the methodical spinning of lighthouses over the sea.
There is no need to go for a walk outside at night here. Especially in the winter. It never even occurred to me that I was missing any of this until tonight. I knew my heart ached for other things...but this was completely off my radar.
Today I am thankful for God's simple reminders.
Whether it is a smell, or a song, or the moon....the reminder of what was/is sacred to our souls. I miss all of those things, which makes me sad. But I miss them because I loved them. And to love something is to invite a taste of euphoria into your heart.
To be simply reminded of that...
Thank you.
The Year of Gratitude
2 comments:
I know, you can never quite guess where the reminder comes from. But I assume you and your fingers survived the walk as you managed to type this post?
Tytti
@Anonymous They did Tytti! :) I am realizing I love "crisp" winter air, but I hate "FRIGID" winter air. There is a difference.
Post a Comment