Raindrops, Metaphors And The Awakening Earth!

Raindrops, Metaphors And The Awakening Earth!

The rain started early this morning with it’s slow, drippy tap-tap-tap on my bedroom window.

Nothing harsh, just a gentle, soft rain accompanied by a cool temperature of 63 degrees. 

I slowly swung my legs out of bed, smiling as my thoughts raced to putting on a pot of ham & pinto beans and letting them slowly simmer on the stove, filling the house with comfort food smells.

Comfort food and raindrops!  

A perfect combination, along with the stirrings of nostalgic rainy days and hearty foods from my childhood, came an awareness of everything good surrounding me.

 

 

When we bought this home, I had no way of knowing that this house with surrounding courtyard, tall ficus hedges interwoven with red and pink hibiscus would be such a healing place. Something is happening every moment of the day.

Today, I walked around my private Secret Garden in awe of all the beauty and nature surrounding me. 

No matter where I’ve lived, my favorite time of day has always been the early morning. I get very still and quiet, just watching as the earth awakens and the beginning rays of light spill into the air.

Even on rainy days such as today, it is magic!

A wise man once said:

“Our days and nights are not measured by how much we do but by how much we see.  An unexamined life is not worth living...” Plato

Deep truth, and poetically expressed, don’t you think?

I marveled at a raindrop hanging precariously from the bottom of a branch as the rain slowed its tempo…..

…….and the raindrops glistening on giant hibiscus flowers.

The rain had all but stopped, except for a few last drips that sporadically fell from the gray skies. 

I love the smell of the clean air after the rain has used its cleansing to whisk away the dust and grime.

Everything is fresh and clean.

Simply beautiful!

 The pair of cardinals who frequent the bird bath daily, chirped their morning song for me.

A mockingbird fluttered among the hibiscus flashing the bright white of his wings as a tiny bunny rabbit hopped between the boards of the fence.

Where was my camera when I needed it?

I sat on the edge of the stone bench with my camera ready for whatever shot I could get, not minding the dampness to my clothes, but the moment seemed to be over for animal and bird photos.

This early morning quietness is not new for me. I’ve done a lot of “seeing” and “thinking” and “meditating” in this little Secret Garden of mine. 

It is there, you know.

The beauty is all around us if we but sit quietly and observe and…. listen.

We can all take a few moments to engage with the world around us….which reminds me of a verse in Psalms 46-10: “Be still and know that I am God”

How profound.

Our days and nights are not measured by how much we do but how much we see and hear. 

My dear readers, we are most alive when we open ourselves to small things and small moments. 

The rain has completely stopped and the sun is peeking through the fluffy clouds.

I think it is lunchtime…and time for Ham and Beans and homemade dinner rolls.

Have a great day!