Most
mornings I’m up by six with the goal of ingesting equal amounts of caffeine and
silence before the clock strikes seven and the kids tumble down the stairs. This morning
when I plopped down on the love seat with the first warm cup of coffee, it was nearly
seven.
The sky was grayed by a blanket
of fog, the world pale and shy through the windows. I sat facing the stairs and for the briefest
of moments the white balusters supporting the handrail appeared to be floating
in mid-air, foundation-less.
Light from one window lit the curved
spindles highlighting them while light from another colored their small square bases exactly the right shade of gray to blend in
with the paneled wall behind. It was an
optical illusion that lasted a minute or less as the morning light shifted
quickly and I was there to see it.
This morning
the light is slow to come, the wind is howling and the online forecast suggests the next few days will keep me busy feeding the wood stove to stave off the
cold. So far January has been gray and
damp and I’m learning to find a certain comfort in the fog, aside from its
obvious beauty.
I don’t like
not being able to see very far ahead in my own life, but the fog seems to tell
me it’s ok. The whitened landscape reminds me that there’s often a gentleness in not knowing and a
gift in having no other option but being fully present right where we are.
I was there
on the couch at just the right moment to observe that small and fleeting wonder
– wonder right in front of me, inside my very own little house.
This is what
I’m thinking about these days – these small wonders, moments that open and
close like so many flowers blooming and fading throughout the garden of my day.
* * *
Welcome, friends, to the #SmallWonder link-up.
What if we chose to deliberately look for the small moments of wonder, the small sparks of presence, of delight or sorrow, of true humanity in which we meet God?
That’s my proposal – that we would gather together here each week (or as often as we’re able) to share one small moment of Wonder from each of our days.
You’re invited to link-up a brief post of about five hundred words or less about a Small moment of Wonder. Don’t worry if your post is too long, too short or not just right, you’re welcome to come as you are.
Looking for Unforced Rhythms? We’re a community in transition. We invite you to consider whether this new link-up meets your needs and to participate as you’re able.
While you’re here, please do take a look around and encourage at least one other blogger with a comment.
Hi Kelly, it is amazing what those early morning wonders speak to us. Yesterday I looked out at the woods in our yard blanketed with snow. The beauty was just breathtaking & I could hardly take it all in. So white, so pure, so still. Grateful to be here this morning!
Yes, the snow is a gift – this morning I was wishing I could snuggle down under our white duvet and just rest like the snow, but little people keep me from that for now, so we're baking banana bread instead and the house is humming like a bee hive. Thanks for stopping by.
"There’s often a gentleness in not knowing and a gift in having no other option but being fully present right where we are."
Yes. "Now" is my One Word for 2015, and you have summarized it up well, Kelly. Thank you.
What a brief, yet spacious word, Lisa. Blessings as you settle into each and every now!
Your words help me visualize your room, your view, the stillness.
Thank you Michelle, there's so little stillness in our house these days, but I keep reminding myself that this too shall pass. It's good to see you here. I didn't see a way to comment on your link, by the way.
Kelly, thank you for hosting this community and for this small glimpse of wonder….
I love the magical moment you shared and congratulate you on hosting the link-up Kelly. Linked up already but I think my post fits the prompt. On a bus ride to Lake Placid I imagined a girl walking through the trees… on a spiritual journey she shared a few small wonders with me.
I'm so happy to see you here, Lisha. Thanks so much for linking. I need to check out your link-up, but somehow my blog feed refuses to include your blog! I guess I just need to find you on facebook and hop over from there!
Ha – I love it… we both wrote about fog today! I am not a fan of cold or winter… but lately the fog has been glorious!
The light and the fog and the shadows and the seeing and the not seeing. Ah, yes, the wonder of it all. Snapshots of fleeting moments. I just love how you're grabbing onto them, friend.
Hi Kelly, nice to meet you! I hope you are not too cold. News about the blizzard is on all channels even if I am far away here in Manila! Yes we should notice God's small wonders so we can really appreciate His wonderful gifts! Too often we take so much for granted! God bless you! patsy