Tag Archives: Awakening

Circle of Life

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There are times in life we witness something so magnificent that it blindsides us. It could be a matter of timing or possibly sheer luck. It feels miraculous to be at the right time and place to become a spectator to something that has the potential to take your breath away. That is how I felt when I recently witnessed a bald eagle in flight.

Driving through a suburban neighborhood usually doesn’t offer the most scenic backdrop. Something might catch your eye on the order of landscaping or a real estate sign but usually those trips are uneventful. When I witnessed a bald eagle cross my path I was astonished. I instantly found myself reaching for my phone but stopped when I realized that I needed to leave it in my purse and focus on the spectacle before me. The eagle had recently taken flight as it came from the left and was just above the height of my car. It was high enough to clear my path but low enough that I could see the bird in all its stunning glory. When its flight brought it directly above me, it took a ninety degree turn and momentarily I was following its path. Then as quickly as it made its first turn, it did it once again and flew off to the right. It was overwhelming and I found my heart was beating wildly in my chest and then I realized that the eagle held a rabbit in its talons. I winced and tears came to my eyes.

I watched the eagle continue to fly with the rabbit silhouetted against a beautiful blue sky. There didn’t seem to be a struggle coming from the rabbit and it appeared to hang there, so still. I am not so naïve that I don’t have command of the laws of nature and the reality of the food chain. An eagle with its commanding presence needs nutrition and it was merely doing what was needed to survive. I am not a vegetarian and it might appear hypocritical that it tugged at my heart strings to see the rabbit carried off to become a meal. Truthfully, I did wonder if the rabbit was a mother whose rabbit kits would be left behind, defenseless. Was the rabbit taken when out playing with its litter mates? Maybe it seems foolish to place human characteristics on the vulnerable rabbit but I can’t be honest about my experience without sharing my thoughts.

Upon reflection I realized I witnessed the Circle of Life. Pardon me, Elton, as I expand on your song’s lyrics. If we are fortunate enough to rack up decades of living, I would hope it would be matched with the realization that everyday our role may change but we are still offered the chance to do more than just survive. I can look back at the times that I felt the strength of the eagle coursing through my veins, a feeling of being invincible. In direct contrast there were times that I felt as victimized as the rabbit. There doesn’t seem to be a way to appreciate the goodness without experiencing the challenges. I would hope that appreciating the positive aspects tip the scale when comparing them to the tests and trials. Mostly my wish is that when we are presented with the role of the rabbit, we can fly with the eagle knowing that we knew our purpose and our life would reflect how we sought to meet it.

Ivy

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It is sad to see an empty home, especially one that has stood on its foundation for decades. The vacant porch no longer hears the creaking of a rocker or the tinkling of ice in a glass of sweet tea. The living room is silent, conversation and music no longer heard between its walls. The kitchen is devoid of memorable aromas. The bedrooms, once the keeper of dreams, lay vacant. A home that once was a safe haven for a family is now unoccupied and may only have deterioration in its future.

I notice empty houses and wonder who once called it home. I am curious about its past and wonder what the future might hold. I am not the only one. Mother Nature has a way of reaching out to a lonely old house. She will often send out tendrils of ivy, in a possible attempt to offer misguided comfort. I can almost hear the whisper of the ivy as it slowly caresses a wall. It offers a greeting and upon no response invites more of its legions to join. Soon there is a blanket of ivy offering to help shelter the house and help keep its secret of abandonment. The house falls victim to the whims of Mother Nature as there is no one there to offer any resistance.

Although there are examples of well-tended ivy that enhances the appearance of a home it can also be detrimental to the surface. It can find its way into cracks and crevices and expand those joints, opening and inviting rot. Painted walls can become discolored and stucco can find that it is no match for the adhesion of ivy.  Something so natural, that happens so gradually, can become lovely when carefully cultivated yet damaging when its growth has no guidance.

I look in the mirror every morning to perform the obligatory check on hair and clothes. It is nothing more than a passing glance. I believe it is time to look a little longer and a little harder to see what appears in the reflection. What type of ivy is being cultivated?  Have I been successful in producing a healthy, vibrant crop that enhances the gifts I was blessed with from birth or am I letting the ivy run rampant? Is the growth acting as a mask, trying to hide something much like the ivy on an empty house? The good news is that there is always a season of growth. It is never too late to correct the direction of the ivy. It is not always easy, but cutting it off at the root or working diligently to change the path, a healthier harvest can be produced. I’m committed to checking its growth. Will you join me?

Time to Harvest

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One of my favorite memories has always been my brothers and I sitting around after a holiday meal, trading barbs. The bad puns would continue followed by laughter that sounded very similar from one sibling to another. It has been coined Blackstock humor. A longtime friend reminded me that I have used laughter as a response to much of life. That might have been a dangerous ploy to use with nuns but I managed to survive. It was upon this foundation that I created my first blog: My Punch Line (mypunchline.wordpress.com). It seemed appropriate to find the humor in life’s challenges. Now, upon retrospect, it doesn’t seem entirely suitable. There are challenges that life sends your way that need more thought and fortitude than laughter.

Life has blessed me with the best it has to offer: my son, my family who remains close, friends, travel and professional settings that have allowed me to leave my mark. Challenges and sorrow are not unknown to me: divorce, unemployment, health issues and those that I love that have made the transition to eternity. Ultimately I would like to think there is balance. The mountains and valleys are juxtaposed and simultaneously visible, no matter what my circumstance may be at the time. Whatever course I travel, it is rich in experience.

Life is certainly a mixed bag. I could offer a multitude of clichés that may or may not be proven. Is it true that you reap what you sow or is it a wives’ tale to keep you in line? We have all witnessed forces that deter the greatest laid plans. That brings me to the concept of this blog: Harvesting Life. Are you gathering what has been created or are you merely gazing upon it and seeing its completion but not collecting it or using it for its intended purpose? I recognize that there are seasons that the crop is substandard or even rotten. Those are the days one has to decide if the crop will be left to fester or cleared and replanted. Harvesting is work. It takes determination and strength. Substitute life for harvest and recognize it too takes determination and strength.

For the longest time I held a cynical view of life, stating we come into this world alone and we leave the same way. I’m now rethinking that and viewing it in a much more positive light. My mother carried me for 9 months before giving me life. A medical team was there to ensure that my journey began in a safe and healthy setting. As a matter of fact my father, who was career Navy, made the 300 mile trip by bus in a blizzard to meet me. No, I didn’t come into this world alone. I have no idea what my last moments on this earth might be but for now I will live and live fully. I’m holding space for you. Will you join me, figuratively standing shoulder to shoulder, and begin the process of harvesting life?