It was hot today.  Really hot.  I sat outside for about an hour in the late afternoon and even my eyelids were sweating.  It’s been a stressful couple of weeks. Reflecting on sin, revisiting sorrow, struggling to find a way forward through hard times has been wearing. At lunch today, during a work-related meeting where everyone was testy as all get out, it felt like my head would explode.  Aaaargh!

And then, after a wonderful visit with my spiritual director, it was time for my ramble.  At 7:30 it was still hot but somehow, that felt good.  And when I got to the little park almost at the end of my current route, the Dr Elizabeth Hays Civic Park, I turned in to do the loop around it.  About halfway through the park, I noticed a rather large bird on the ground in front of me.  I slowed down until I stopped and could look closely.  It was a small burrowing owl.  We looked at each other for a couple of minutes and he was gracious enough to allow me to take this somewhat pitiful little picture before moving on.  I continued down to 441 then turned back.  Since I had my iPhone with me, I was listening to some music.  The music of Seals & Crofts dates me but I love their song Summer Breeze so I’m bopping down the street humming along and literally, just as they sing the lyric, “sweet days of summer, the jasmine’s in bloom” I walk by a hedge of jasmine so fragrant and sweet it almost makes me high.  After breathing deeply and thanking God for such loveliness, I go on.  Not 5 minutes later, I am walking by a house with a nice lawn in front and all of a sudden, the sprinkler system comes to life full force and drenches me.  Just drenches me.  Remember, it’s been hot as heck today and oh my God, it’s baptism, crossing through death to new life.  With the night breeze already picking up, I walked on refreshed and renewed, overwhelmed with gratitude.  And there was one last gift left to accept.  When I got home,  Sherod had the TV on and was watching one of my most absolutely all time favorite movies ever, Lost in Translation.  I missed about the first half but got to see the end and that is one of the best endings ever. If you haven’t seen the movie, you should. Tonight is the start of my weekend and all that’s left to say is:

“Goodnight stars
Goodnight air
Goodnight noises everywhere ”

Good, good night…