Another Gift

I've started a new Sunday morning practice.

A weekly practice that is eight weeks old today.

Every morning, I go to my "sanctuary."

A place where I care for my mind, my body, and my spirit.

I care for my mind as I read and write and reflect and plan my day.

I care for my body as I stretch and move and exercise.

And I care for my spirit as I sit in silence and contemplative prayer.

My sanctuary is a gift.

A place set apart.

A place of refuge and rest.

Normally, my sanctuary is a room in my basement.

A quiet place to prepare for my day.

This morning, I chose a different sanctuary.

I chose a different gift.

I'm reading Anne Lamott's Traveling Mercies.

This is the story of her faith journey.

Her path is long and winding and rugged and beautiful.

Her path is a unique gift.

As is mine.

As is yours.

I started a practice eight weeks ago.

The practice of weekly reflections.

I began reading my week of daily journals on Sunday mornings.

Looking back on the week of brand new days.

This week, a common theme was my "golden years."

I know I have far more teaching and coaching days behind me than before me.

I know that one day, these days will come to an end.

I also thought about these daily journals.

The hand written journals and the digital ones.

I know that one day, these too will come to an end.

As I sat on my porch, I thought about the gifts.

The gifts of rest and refuge.

As I sat in my different sanctuary, I thought about my days.

The days ahead and the days behind.

We are surrounded by gifts.

The greatest gift is given to us by the Giver.

The Giver of life and love and wisdom and mercy.

We are barraged by divine encounters.

Life that is precious.

Life that is worthy of appreciation and reverence.

So here is another gift, another day.

Another morning, another opportunity.

Here is another gift, another sanctuary.

Another moment to pause, another moment to rest.

Here is another gift, another divine encounter.

Another day to find refuge, another gift from the Giver.

May this day be precious and my our travels find mercy.