"Bless me Father for I have sinned." But not real badly. ...I hope anyway. I can easily drift off, be distracted, lose concentration, get lost in some tangential thought or have a long, involved daydream. Over the years this has improved some but apparently not that much. I can look at one You Tube of those audition shows where everyone wonders why the contestant is there in the first place then they wow the audience and the judges with their amazing voice and soul. Even with knowing that some of this has to be a put on, it's still rather exciting, tearful and memorable. Then of course, I have to watch another one. Four hours later, I start to get a little jaded. It's obvious that a recent death in the family or anything to do with cancer goes a long way. And I have to question why there's always one or two guys in the wing that are rubbing up against the contestant's mother or significant other. You just know there's some real groping when the camera isn't on them.
But this is only one kind of magical moment to get lost in. I love it when someone in the produce section of a grocery store begins to sing a familiar American pop song. That's a special moment in itself but then one by one others join in. And soon the aisles are full of a harmonious sound and dancing. Most of shoppers' faces express unexpected joy and happiness. Some, no doubt, are irritated with the interruption. Probably the last thing they wanted was an encounter with a magic moment. Mass breakouts or flash mobs happen in food courts and churches, at concerts and weddings (I haven't seen one happen at a funeral, but it's only time before one does), and on streets and buses, almost anyplace where the unusual can disrupt the properness of commonality.
It's just as easy to get lost watching military service people come home early from their last deployment to surprise family, friends or pets. Some of the children's responses can be heartbreaking and so genuine. They may be why I keep watching. Having been in that situation during the Vietnam War, I can better imagine my return home as a surprise. ____But things were different then. I love how pets get so excited when they see their service member after such a long time. Note: it's usually dogs; cats want an explanation for the absence. Thoughts of pets then remind me that there are an endless number of puppy and kitten videos to watch. The cuteness factor is off the chart, but the animal rescue stories are the best. Transformations through love and care are always inspiring signs of hope.
Surprising magical moments, whether real or contrived, are few as compared to the day in and day out routines of life. Sure, there's a spiritual understanding that says ordinary life can be magical and we would do well to be grateful for all the little moments that fill our day. I trust that I never get to the place where sunrises and sunsets are just part of another uneventful day. But even if the many moments of sublimity aren't considered as commonplace, they don't make up for the less than magical realities of life. I mean all of life, not just the little corner that I live in.
Because the great teacher lived high on a mountain that was far from the village, a young man was sent on the journey to ask him what life was all about, as there was such a dissension amongst the villagers. When he returned, he told them that the great teacher said if they truly wanted to know, they would have to send the oldest man in the village. After along while, the old man finally returned. The villagers excitedly asked what the great teacher said hoping that he had confirmed what they believed. The old man told them the great teacher said that life was a pair of ducks. They immediately asked if the great teacher said anything else. The old man replied, "He said it was the only thing that made sense." With that, the villagers were sad, as no one had picked a pair of ducks to be what life was all about.
It's just as easy to get lost watching military service people come home early from their last deployment to surprise family, friends or pets. Some of the children's responses can be heartbreaking and so genuine. They may be why I keep watching. Having been in that situation during the Vietnam War, I can better imagine my return home as a surprise. ____But things were different then. I love how pets get so excited when they see their service member after such a long time. Note: it's usually dogs; cats want an explanation for the absence. Thoughts of pets then remind me that there are an endless number of puppy and kitten videos to watch. The cuteness factor is off the chart, but the animal rescue stories are the best. Transformations through love and care are always inspiring signs of hope.
Surprising magical moments, whether real or contrived, are few as compared to the day in and day out routines of life. Sure, there's a spiritual understanding that says ordinary life can be magical and we would do well to be grateful for all the little moments that fill our day. I trust that I never get to the place where sunrises and sunsets are just part of another uneventful day. But even if the many moments of sublimity aren't considered as commonplace, they don't make up for the less than magical realities of life. I mean all of life, not just the little corner that I live in.
Because the great teacher lived high on a mountain that was far from the village, a young man was sent on the journey to ask him what life was all about, as there was such a dissension amongst the villagers. When he returned, he told them that the great teacher said if they truly wanted to know, they would have to send the oldest man in the village. After along while, the old man finally returned. The villagers excitedly asked what the great teacher said hoping that he had confirmed what they believed. The old man told them the great teacher said that life was a pair of ducks. They immediately asked if the great teacher said anything else. The old man replied, "He said it was the only thing that made sense." With that, the villagers were sad, as no one had picked a pair of ducks to be what life was all about.
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