Gifts & Graces
We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures.
Thornton Wilder
Here’s my random gratitude collection of mostly small but sometimes large things that helped make June better.
Hedges are Flowers. Every June, I get re-surprised to realize that hedges are also flowers! One of our neighbors has a long hedge I walk by daily. And usually, I ignore it, having seen it thousands of times. But then, one week in June, there’s a pervasive scent, and I realize the hedge contains thousands of small white flowers. It’s so stunning that it jolts me into appreciating something I don’t even notice for 11 months every year.
Identifying Birds – by Sound! Recently my sister and brother-in-law clued me into the Merlin app, which identifies birds by listening to their sounds. Since I have difficulty visually locating birds that I hear, this is perfect for me. And it’s strangely addictive. Now when I’m sitting outside and wondering what bird I’m hearing, I get an instant answer.
70s/80s Music. My music tastes have been nostalgic this spring and summer. I’m drawn to the artists and songs I listened to and loved in college. So I’ve been indulging this desire and loaded my phone with CDs by The Eagles, Steve Forbert, Jackson Browne, early Tom Petty, and early Springsteen. The music transports me back to a different me at a different time. And I’m reminded how good music can transcend time.
Lowering the Bar. I had big plans for summer. Lists of things I wanted to do regularly, along with some special summer-ish adventures. And so I started to panic (in my best project manager manner) when I realized the entire month of June had already passed. One-third of the summer is gone! But I’ve now given myself the grace to lower my expectations of what I’ll do this summer. It’s been unusually rainy, so many of my planned outdoor activities haven’t materialized. The whole point of my summer activities is to relax, enjoy myself, and be more spontaneous. And fortunately, I realized the absurdity of attempting to manage this like a software project.
A closing prayer
Dear God, please help me pay attention to the many gifts and graces You bring to my life. Let me gratefully acknowledge the people and things that fill my days with joys that range from small comforts to immense love. And thank you, God, for being with me each day. I am humbled and inspired by how Your Spirit works through the actions of so many people.
Amen.
Falling Up After 50 
If you add “relax, savor the moment, enjoy myself” on your to-do list, it’s a win-win when you accomplish it! I must admit, that as I read your observations about the neighbors’ hedges, I thought you were going to comment on how they suddenly grew and are blocking the sidewalk! That’s what I notice — how overnight, the hedges (i.e. bushes) have encroached upon my space and I have to maneuver around them!!! One day, they are normal sized shrubbery; the next day, they have become annoying monstrosities that need immediate pruning! Lastly, early Springsteen? I will be playing The River and Darkness today. Thank you, Ramrod. Or perhaps Sherry Darling?
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I hadn’t thought about the extraordinary growth spurt of the hedges, but you’re right! After being away for a week I feel like I came home to a rainforest jungle in our yard/garden/deck planters. Stuff grew (including weeds, unfortunately) an abnormal amount.
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thanks for sharing your bits of gratitude (again) Cathy! thinking about what I am most grateful for at this moment, I would put the patience and forgiveness God showers on me at the top of today’s list… Each time I am too occupied or distracted to want to pray, somehow the Spirit drags me into moments of prayer. I am rewarded with the presence and peace of God. One might think after many go-rounds exactly like this I would be eager for prayer time, somehow that hasn’t evolved (yet?). So thanks to God for his infinite patience and care for me (and for all of us)!
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Prayer always seems to go in cycles. Just when I think I’ve got it figured out, something changes and I’m back to starting over again. But as long as we keep showing up and trying, I think we’re doing fine!
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My sister also recently introduced me to the Merlin app, and I love it! I especially love how if there are multiple birds you are recording, they will highlight the one currently vocalizing.
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Yes! I agree that’s very helpful. Sometimes I’ll even click on the particular bird and listen to a bunch of their other different songs that Merlin offers. It’s such a well designed app, especially for one that’s free!
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