The Gift of this Day

The sun burst out of the ocean blazing like the eye of God! 12th Street was bathed in golden sunshine and Goddess’ yellow coat was electric in luminosity. She didn’t walk as much she danced.

I held my hand up and looked and particles from the golden streets of heaven were showering on me. I could actually see them hitting my arm and the shadows of the dark places were pushed back into the ground behind us. We just stood there for the longest time trying to take it all in.

Choirs of birds were singing hymns in harmony. Squirrels darted around like church ushers chasing collections. The trees which are the pillars of the Cathedral that God built were adorned with white egrets. The brown marsh grass bowed in prayer. The holy waters of baptism rose in celebration of the gift of this day.

Such a day demanded that normal routines be damned so Goddess and I continued the walk along the Back River. Sniffing below at everything and leaping up towards the choirs of birds when they flew by, Goddess was in no hurry. She was enjoying it as much as I was.

Making our way back home I sigh. There is much that I have to do. I’d rather keep walking. But the demands of the world most often eclipse the gifts of God.

When that happens, Caesar takes charge and force poor Joe’s to ride on their ass even with pregnant wives … Taxes are more important and collections mean everything.

Stoning occurs every day in the country’s Capitol or in daily blues that is thrown in the front yard.

Crucifixions are given top honors on the nightly news.

And the world dances in glee when someone is caught with their pants down.

We all live in both worlds at the same time.

Every day we all have to choose where we want to focus our energies.

My dear friends Mary Ann and Mitch are big believers in Celtic Christianity, part of which believes in the dark places where roots take hold, conceptions occur and Saviors rise from the dead.

I appreciate their perspective but … I’m tired of dark.

I’m sick of Caesar … the hypocrisy of judgment … the daily crucifixions that we all get to witness … elected officials who believe they are leaders merely because they’re the only ones willing to run for office…and Fox News.

I’m sick of the dark.

So I ignore the demands of the world and sit on the beloved back deck. Goddess is at my feet snoring. God continues to rain the tiny pieces of heaven down on me. I try to decide what’s more important … managing through the paperwork or enjoying … this.

Ignore all that I feel obligated to do or appreciate what God is giving me?

My I-phone buzzes. It is someone I love who had hard and dark times thrust into life. Stupid shit that had to have been dealt with! She’s tired and I ache for her. Yet as we chat she tells me this story of laughter. The eye God looks into any situation and reminds us that dark places are always overcome in luminosity.

I hang up and my I-phone buzzes again.

There is a blizzard in Pittsburg. Most of the work that I have to do today involves that place. “Hundreds of commuters are inching through it while the business of Pittsburgh is conducted on cell phones,” is how friend Jim Withers put it.

Looking up, a blanket of clouds has covered the sun.

The winds of Caesar blow through the Palm Trees.

I rub Goddess.

Today is this incredible gift from God. I think that I’m going to spend it with her.

And the eye of God bursts through the clouds blazing at us like the sun.