DEEP INTO THE DARKNESS OF WINTER

The heavens proclaim the Glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands.  Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard.  Psalm 19:1

Bogue Sound, NC

A girl raised in the Midwest with no ocean near.

So happy, here, to see sun on water, gently wavering.

Stars in the morning not just at night, more fluid and just as bright.

Sun rising in the east as it does, 

Laying a sparkling path on its road from narrow shore to vast horizon,

A perfect triangle at sea.

The pale moon sets further west, 

Wisp of a moon doing its own evaporating act

Still high in the sky.  

Turtle doves sit side-by-side on the wire, but one has lost its mate.

Soon chased from the pair without remorse, wings whistling.  

Some mornings the sun pushes its way through the cloudy canopy,

Some days an easy ride.

Last night I saw the very same orb drop into the sea at 5:11 to the minute,

Leaving ribbons red and gold across the span of water meeting sky, 

Deep into the darkness of winter.

How do we deserve these miracles? 

                                                       Nina Naomi

AFTER ALL, THE SUN SETS AND THE MOON RISES EVERYWHERE

Everything about this week is good.  How many weeks can we say that?  We made it to the beach on Thursday where the air is clear and cold.  Hats, hand-warmers, down jacket.  We let Mr. Wiggles off leash and he behaved, running in circles while a much bigger dog played Frisbee catch. No barking. Very good behavior indeed. 


Then as soon as the sun set orange and yellow and fat, dropping right into the ocean, we saw the moon rise and Venus popped out.  The moon rose and by 11 p.m. when we took Mr. Wiggles out for his last walk before bed, it was very very bright, in its Waxing Crescent Phase.  Low and oversized, sitting right at the end of the street, it was 32.5% illuminated and seemed to grow brighter as we watched.  The air fresh and 35ºF, deserted street, moon low and huge, not a super moon but could have been--that big. Dark sky. Bright stars.  

Then yesterday gray and today grayer still, a peaceful color.  The ocean looking like steel, varying from steel to charcoal with the sky only a shade paler.  Yet a sharp delineation between water and sky.  No sunset or moon rise tonight.  A chill in the air all day.

I bet you have a favorite place near water.  Mine is the ocean but lakes and boathouses are wonderful, so are rivers and ponds. Canals might be the most peaceful of all.

Any water feature really. All seasons.  Pools and other places to jump in when the weather is right.  Or to bundle up and walk beside on days like today.  We have a creek at home in our woods that only rushes when it pours but in the dark you can hear it spreading beyond its rocky bed toward the deck (not the best site for a house probably . . .).  I love that sound too. 

So a good week.  I haven't wanted a single do-over.  Not that they exist anyway!  A bit of free time, a special place . . . it doesn't take much.  Something to savor and enjoy moment by moment.  I think this meditation class is awakening my appreciation of the present.  Here's hoping for a good week for all of us.  After all, the sun sets and the moon rises everywhere.  Nina Naomi