Sometimes in our frenetic comings and goings, we catch glimpse of a sky that drops our plans and causes us to give chase.
We want one good glimpse.
A long look into a spanning palette.
We need one last shot.
A moment to savor the uncluttered sky. No power lines, fast food signs, and billboards in our race to an exhausted day’s-end.
Evening last, I encountered one of those sunsets. Instead of following my friend to return something she’d left with me, I was distracted by a John Steuart Curry sky.
Roils of billowing white clouds climbed from under a cloud bank on fire.
A backdrop of cerulean blue.
Wonder.
Quiet.
Stillness.
So often in our everydays, wonder becomes “I wonder how I could be so stupid” or “I wonder if the rain is going to keep leaking into my lap” or “I wonder how I am going to ask forgiveness.”
In the last 24 hours, I’ve encountered each of those difficult wonders – much of my own doing.
Even though I’d been foolishly blind, soaked in transit, and originator of a lousy mucking up, that setting sun and humid air still crashed above into cooler winds – just in time for the atmosphere to catch fire and wonder to stop me alongside a busy road.
Wonder.
Perhaps slowing down can be as brave and restorative as fighting every dragon and facing each giant.
And in slowing down, we may move from a bagful of oh-geez “I wonders” to quiet, stillness, and wisdom where “oh wow” resides.
***I will be out-of-pocket Friday – Monday in search of quiet and stillness and welcoming wonder. Wish you could join me, but let’s meet back here next week to start a new refreshed conversation of our Everyday DerringDos. Tchuss.
Fantastic sunset. And your words do it justice. I love seeing your gift with words on display. Great book about wonder for a penny here: http://www.amazon.com/Dangerous-Wonder-Discussion-Michael-Yaconelli/dp/1576834816/ref=sr_1_sc_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1437520771&sr=8-1-spell&keywords=wonder+yacconeli
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Chased that sunset to the highest and most-unobstructed place I could find. Had me speechless – which is the way I like it these days. Will try to dig up a copy of the Wonder book before I head to a quiet/yoga-ish retreat in the mountains. Cheers, Friend.
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