| An epiphany of a mind for the symphony of a heart Tonight is the most beautiful night I have ever seen. A magnificent thunderstorm rolls in quickly, springing up out of nothing. I love thunderstorms. So I sit on the porch to watch. The lightening pierces the gloom followed by sharp cracks of thunder. After that initial shock, the low frequency rumble continues to resonate through my bones. The trees whip in protest and the wind swirls. It is, as always, a mixture of excitement and serenity, feeling safe and comfortable on the porch, witnessing the fury of the storm. I sit, completely unaware of such mundane concepts as time or words. I watch, as the low clouds drift away. Soon the golden light of a previously hidden sunset paints the retreating storm clouds in majestic gold. Stunning washes of gold, pink, and purple set the sky on fire even in the lingering dampness. No moment is comparable to the next. Each fleeting interaction of cloud, sky, and light is connected yet unique. So soon though, the light begins to fade, and as if mourning, a midnight blue veil settles over the ember of the moment. The harsh ring of a phone rudely breaks this reverie. For all of you, I offer humble advice unfettered with foppish pretense: Take a moment in each day to marvel at the world around you. Take more than a moment each day to cherish the people you love. Try hard to strip away all the calcified deposits that create the defensive shell of pain and bitterness that we all accumulate through the years, and draw forth the courage to share that tender, defenseless, yet resilient soul with someone else. Because, even if it fades fast, love is worth even more than the moment. |