The picture above is from my backyard, out in the northeast part of the corner of my property where my old clothesline is located. And yes, I still do hang sheets out to dry because they smell so fresh and clean. Just a few mornings ago I was walking out back because the rain had finally stopped. Reddogg and Pan were both walking with me. Pan, being an outdoor cat has no qualms related to getting his feet wet. The ground was soft and soggy pretty much everywhere. Then I noticed these little weed-like grasses, some standing up straight and tall, others slightly bent over, yet each one was holding water drops to full capacity on their tiny stems. Now that is abundance! Those tiny petals are not only half full, but overflowing. Though the sun was not shining on them they really were quite stunning; fairy-like pearls in their appearance.

So I got to thinking about how much abundance do I allow in my own life. And isn’t the way I think part of that acknowledging and accepting the goodness all around me. The other day when I was feeling rather down and asked God for a happy surprise I was not disappointed. I saw the most beautiful cobweb on a tree next to my driveway. It was about six inches wide and eight inches tall. Every strand connected to another strand of soft, silver webbing. Truly a work of art.

Yesterday afternoon I was out in my front yard and I heard the call of a hawk. I love hawks and feel I have a personal connection to hawks. So I stood there and waited and here comes a hawk flying right down the road from me and Our Treehouse. Then here comes another, and then another… all totaled to eight to ten red tailed hawks! They were flying, spiraling up and up, their bodies easily seen against the blue sky. I had spotted a kettle of hawks! I have heard this term for a group of hawks and I have seen pictures. But I have never seen a kettle of hawks flying around in my own little universe. I was thrilled! Another happy surprise from Dear Spirit and I hadn’t even asked this time. I am learning that sometimes the ordinary really is extraordinary, it’s all in how I perceive things.

One of my favorite authors, Dr Wayne Dyer, has a famous quote, “If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.” Though only a few words, this quote is a very broad statement and fits into many aspects of our lives. Several years ago I hadn’t really changed the way I looked at things. A spiderweb was simply a spiderweb. What could you possibly mean when you say a work of art? And a group of hawks flying around was just a bunch of birds up in the sky, no big deal. But I am much wiser now. Abundance flows to me everyday in many shapes and forms. Most of time I feel like the little weed-like grass, simply covered up with so much goodness I may tip over!

Good and more Good as my dear friend Rev. Carolyn says. I watch and I listen with my arms wide open.

c   Love, Joan