Over the Fence

When you were a child, did you ever lose a ball over the fence, a Frisbee onto the roof or a kite into a tree? It’s hard not to panic when something you care about suddenly slips out of sight. Sometimes we managed to get those beloved playthings back, and sometimes we didn’t. But not too infrequently, when you went looking for the item that escaped, you would find something else entirely, something you thought was gone forever, or that you had completely forgotten about.

What have you found when you were looking for something else?

A Wider View

In this time of intense political fervor, when stakes are high and opinions strong, it’s all too easy to become entrenched in our own particular viewpoint, and to dismiss anyone whose world view is different as an idiot. Sometimes our mental and spiritual health requires that we take a step back and try to look at the world from a broader angle, to walk out of the trees and gaze at the horizon.

Where do you go to gain a broader perspective on life?

Taking Time to Water

This time of year, many gardens are beginning to look a bit crispy around the edges. Surely the rain will fall soon, and spare us the effort of having to water! But sometimes you simply have to take responsibility for watering your own garden.

Sure, there will be moments of deep grace when the rain falls from the sky and you are suddenly, blessedly, refreshed. But more often, it is up to us to make a time and place for our souls to drink deep.

How will you nourish your roots today?

Gruntled

When happy and relaxed, some dogs make little grunting noises. Why do we never describe people as feeling “gruntled”? We say that a person is “disgruntled,” that they are out-of-sorts, dissatisfied or grumpy. Why not gruntled? Perhaps you can find a moment today, as you put on your comfiest pajamas, or settle in with a good book, watch birds at the feeders by your window or whatever gives you gentle pleasure, to give out a few small, happy grunts.

What makes you feel “gruntled”?

Back to School

Most children have been back to school for a week or more, but somewhere in my consciousness, the day after Labor Day is fixed as the return to school. So I’m thinking that for those of us who left formal schooling behind many years ago, maybe today should mark Learn Something Day. Of course, any day is a good day to learn something new, but today could be an exceptionally good day to stretch your mind a bit.

What might you explore today about our amazing world and the people and other beings we share it with?