What a Beautiful Day

I took some time, once again, to wander Midtown Manhattan and enjoy the day.

I do this daily, as I enjoy being out of doors and I love watching our visitors from other homesteads energizing this city with their wonder, excitement, and pace.

The weather has been somewhat of a challenge lately. The days have been warm, yet the evenings have brought concerns of frost to my little vegetable gardens in Mount Pocono ... surprisingly so, in this first week of June. Even in Manhattan, the weather is uncertainly unpredictable.

I like that term ... "uncertainly unpredictable" ... somewhat Willie Wonka-ish ... neither makes much sense.

In Times Square, Manhattan, our mayor has designated half of the "Times Square Bowtie" (the Crossroads of the World) for pedestrian use. Traffic has been diverted around this stretch, where the New Years Eve Ball drops, and lawn furniture, (which would otherwise be destined for a Trailer Park that I would just love to spend a few years living and learning in), has been placed for folks to sit and relax - right in the middle of it all.

Most New Yorkers scoff at this, which is typical. However, I find it fascinating to see people sit in inexpensive lawn furniture and relax for a moment or more in the midst of the madness which is Times Square

Balance.

Last week, which was the first week of this project, offered fine weather. My lunch mate and I walked through Times Square and enjoyed the change between the warmth of the sun and the coolness of the shade while on my way to St. Mary's. It was a wondrous afternoon.

This week offered clouds, periods of rain, and bone-chilling coolness in the evening air. However, each day was a most beautiful day, and people continued to find their way to the lawn chairs of Times Square. The weather might not have been ideal, but the balance offered to these various seekers of respite via these tacky little lawn chairs made for a most beautiful day.

When we refer to a “beautiful day,” we are often describing a day that is sunny, clear, and without a cloud in sight to mar a sky that is a brilliant and perfectly blue. We find ourselves bouncing along, light in spirit, free from worries, and enjoying the moment.

Enjoying the moment, that is, until the clouds begin to form. The sky may turn grey, or perhaps a fog may roll in. Puffs of white take on whimsical, darker shades, and our beautiful day disappears along with the sunshine, encompassing us beyond any hope of ever navigating our way back to sensible reality … or so it seems.

A clear blue sky often inspires in us good cheer, bringing on a lighter, more carefree day. We may find ourselves spending time out of doors, breathing in the fresh air, and basking in the warmth of the sun. However, should clouds appear to mask the sky, or us, with shadows, we may allow this change of weather to decrease our energy and enthusiasm, pulling us into our own cloudy funk.

The darker days of reality in our own lives are just as much a part of life as are the days graced with sunshine. Sadness and concern show us a different perspective of our world, while helping us to appreciate the moments of illumination that inevitably follow.

A rainy day with clouds helps to clear the air, washing away stagnation. Still, it’s hard not to feel gloomy or think that the day has been ruined while there are clouds hanging over us.

However, if we remember that these shades of grey won’t last forever, and that hidden behind the clouds is the eternal blue sky, we will find that the beauty of each day is merely playing a game of peek-a-boo with us.

Perhaps it's more of a game of hide-and-go-seek.

It is up to us to seek and find the blue skies.

Much like the mishaps and interruptions that occasionally block the brilliance that is our own lives from shining through, clouds eventually clear away so we can open up to a brighter horizon.

So ... the next time you wake up to a cloudy day, celebrate it ... no rain, no rainbows.

Remember that the shades of grey in life are there just for a moment. No matter how hard the rain falls or how chilly the fog is, the clouds will go away, the sun will break through, and you will be able to see the sky that has always been, is now, and will be forever ... beautiful, brilliant, blue, and eternal.

You see?

There is always a little Heaven right here on Earth .... even through the clouds.

With love & light,

Rob