THOUGHTS

April 29, 2020

A revision from an April 2014 post

"The gentle breezes refresh your soul

and all the days of your life,

may you walk gently through the world

and know its beauty."

"The cure for anything is salt water- sweat, tears, or the sea."

Isak Dinesen

Some days are born to leave the doors and windows open, to let the fresh air in to do its purging.  Today was a throw back to my high school years living across the bay from Morro Bay, except there was no salt spray in the damp air this far inland. (I was tempted to sniff my jar of sea salt though.)  Nevertheless, the outdoors was exquisite to breathe.

"Earth's crammed with heaven."

Elizabeth Barrett Browning

My house, my dwelling, my abode, my comfortable sweet place is my home I love.  As I get older, I want to stay home more and more, want to fly quickly back to my nest if I must venture out.  I count my days by the free ones on the calendar when I do not have to go anywhere.  (Thus, I do not live much differently under the quarantine than before.)  I put off trips to get groceries because home is nicer than walking the aisles bent over pushing a metal cart like its a walker through a flash-mob of others bent over their metal walkers doing a what's-for-dinner dash dance.

"A single sunbeam is enough to drive away many shadows."

Augustine

The windows are my secret to happiness.  I have walls of windows that are my bliss.  I have discovered that I can't live without light.   Though I am not afraid of the darkness, I can't go through a day with blinds closed, curtains drawn.  I even get nervous while visiting where walls are dark and canopies shade the light.  Must. Have. Light.  Otherwise, I suffocate in the dusk of day.

"He that has light within his own clear breast

May sit i' the centre, and enjoy bright day:

But he that hides a dark soul and foul thoughts

Benighted walks under mid-day sun;

Himself, his own dungeon."

John Milton

I can rest easy knowing what I know of myself that I am comfortable, though strange, in a land of other's normalcy of busyness, bustlings, and coming to their homes in the dimmer of day.  

"Sunshine on my shoulder makes me happy."

Some day, we will be called home to light, where there is no darkness, to a forever place of rest where we will all share in the comfort of our dwelling place prepared for us, to new delights we've never imagined, to a true breath of heaven.  Until then, I stir the feathers in my nest, plump them up and let the open windows and spring breeze blow in to refresh my soul.

"Far away there in the sunshine are my highest aspirations.  

I cannot reach them: but I can look up and see their beauty; 

believe in them, and try to follow where they lead."

Louisa May Alcott

"While you have the Light, believe in the Light, 

so that you may become sons of Light."

John 12:36