Vertical Performance

"Waking up this morning. I smile.

Twenty-four brand new hours before me.

I vow to live fully in each moment,

And to look at all beings with eyes of compassion."

Thich Nhat Hanh

Morning Run

I went to bed and woke up in a sour mood this morning. You know, messed up world stuff had me down. Despite that, the sun came up anyway. A big old sun beam coming through my open curtain awoke me, as if God personally wanted to welcome me to the day. And what a glorious day was waiting. I spent my first waking hour sitting in my back yard just taking in the wonder of nature around me. It seemed that the natural world intended to keep moving forward regardless of what its human inhabitants were doing to each other. I noted the majesty of creation, this amazing place we’ve been allowed to share, was still alive around me.

A local park has a really nice one- mile trail through the woods and I decided to go run a few laps. Good choice. Perfect temp. I felt good. And the woods offered pristine, peaceful surroundings. I am so happy at this point of life just to be able to run. Many of my contemporaries aren’t able, and many friends and relatives I grew up with are no longer here.

But for whatever reason I’m still here, running again and very grateful.

A good number of other people are here walking this morning. We are entering a reopening phase of the Covid- 19 stay at home guidelines and people are ready to get out. I decided as I was running, to give a warm greeting to every single person I passed. Not just hello, but a hearty “good morning” or “what a beautiful day.” That sort of thing. Every single person I passed, without exception, returned an enthusiastic greeting. Some were sitting, some were walking, most were coming from the opposite direction. People of all different ages and races. Families, couples, people walking alone; I saw a warmth in the eyes and heard friendly in the voice of every one of them. Every single one. It helped, I think, that I was watching for the best in them.

Perhaps if they had known my religion, my personal beliefs, whether or not I was liberal or conservative, I might have been ignored or poked in the eye or something. But they didn’t.

We all only knew what we had in common at that moment. This gift of a beautiful day, that we were all enjoying. Somehow, the capacity for human warmth was evident in every person, even in these troubled times.

I noted, what has been created and gifted to us, is still present and available, whether in nature or within us. The capacity to connect, to extend love and warmth, and to heal, may still be amongst us. And we are still here.

Maybe responding to hatred with hatred is not the only response. Maybe we can cross divides. I want to believe it is possible. I want to believe that approaching one another with compassion can heal that which divides us. My heart is still heavy, my soul troubled, but…

For a moment this morning I felt hope and possibility for humankind. Or maybe it was just the endorphins.

Peace,

Jim