Sunday, May 11, 2008

I don't understand the sky . . .

I don't understand the sky, but I've always wanted to fly like Icarus before he got too close to the sun or soar like King Arthur, transformed into a hawk at Merlin's hand, or float without the constraints of gravity or climb through the air like a kite.

Last night I stayed up too late. I had a lot on my mind, and I didn't want to sleep. But the late hour was worth it, because right before I went to bed, I had an epiphany: We are all trying to climb through the sky. We move horizontally, sure, but what we're really trying to do is ascend vertically. Sometimes our navigation doesn't go so smoothly. We flap our wings and eventually grow weary. In these moments, we want to descend, to land somewhere short of what we hoped we might achieve. But then, there are these experiences--life's thermal columns--that lift us, allow us to glide and rest our wings, and in the process discover (or rediscover) what makes life so wonderful.

Life's thermal columns: kind and unexpected words; an insight or increased understanding; a friendship; a night out; an answer to a prayer; a beautiful, sunny day; a discovery; a delicious meal; a flower; a garden; a nice walk; a good conversation; finding the direction you want to take; being understood, just a little bit, by someone.

6 comments:

Betty Edit said...

I like that: life's thermal columns.

I've always loved flying, and always had a secret belief that I actually could fly if needed, though I've never been able to prove this outside of my dreams.

There are a lot of things I don't understand. The sky is one of them.

Alicia said...

I like the idea of life's thermal columns, too. It seems like the things that you mention are those that bring us closer to Divinity.

literaqueen said...

I love the image of life's thermal columns. There's a poem in there . . .

Olive Kite said...

But, Sheila, I don't write poetry.

literaqueen said...

Whatever. Yes you do. So there!

Olive Kite said...

Whatever.