Liquid Sunshine
The Story Circle prompt for April was to write about rainy days and showers. I immediately thought of my friend Becky who refers to rain as liquid sunshine. Becky’s dance of life is almost always focused on what is possible; on what new opportunities are opened as a result of whatever life brings. I am not suggesting she welcomes illness – her own or a friend’s, the destruction caused by war or so-called natural disasters. She has and will continue to grieve deeply for the loss of mother, sister-in-law, adored cousin and many others. She also mourns when natural disasters steal homes and entire communities. The illness of an adored pet sharply tugs at her heart strings. Yet, I have never known Becky to allow grief to consume her; to prevent her from focusing her attention and energy on what needs to be done; what she can learn. She is, after all, an educator. Working with Becky on various community projects has always been a source of joy and a challenge to limit my whining. She is often the first to ask, “What is the short- and long-term goals? What are the moral principles or ethics which will form the boundaries of the path we choose?”
Project or task meetings which Becky is chairing are focused, brief and on track. I never worry about getting bored or having time to write the Pulitzer Prize winning 1000-page novel while a meeting she chairs grinds on and on and on!
It comes as no surprise that Becky might often be the lone person thanking the gods of rain for the liquid sunshine. Liquid sunshine will bring forth not only the flowers, melt the now dirty snow or provide relief to the summer heat, it will call forth the muse of ideas, dreams, and the promise of a kinder, gentler world. Liquid sunshine creates this cocoon which calls forth the quiet from which will spring the new workshop on dealing with change. It will call forth new words of comfort as she pens notes of sympathy, empathy, congratulations, and sometimes challenge. She is the consummate educator always choregraphing a dance of life which is comforting, challenging and full of joy.
When I have a pile of work on my desk or am wrestling with the muse to write a report or my daily blog I channel the Becky spirit of liquid sunshine. At first, it falls in gentle drops. Eventually it may arrive as a thunderstorm of ideas; of new opportunities. I also channel the spirit of liquid sunshine when I have a long list of chorettes or when I need to face new grief. The spirit of liquid sunshine often arrives with a warm sweater of memory which will hold the pieces of me together while the shards of grief pour out.
The fact that I am writing this on Palm Sunday; a day to celebrate the triumphant entrance of the Prince of Peace to the city; a day which we know will be followed by the rain of fear, anger, betrayal and ultimately the cross. Yet, we also know it will bring us to the empty tomb and the promise of new life; of new opportunities to have the liquid sunshine wash away the mistakes or sins of the past; of a new dance in which we feed the stranger, clothe the naked, look after the sick, give drink to the thirsty, and visit those in jail. (Matthew 25:37)
Written April 16, 2019
Jimmy F Pickett
coachpickett.org
The Story Circle prompt for April was to write about rainy days and showers. I immediately thought of my friend Becky who refers to rain as liquid sunshine. Becky’s dance of life is almost always focused on what is possible; on what new opportunities are opened as a result of whatever life brings. I am not suggesting she welcomes illness – her own or a friend’s, the destruction caused by war or so-called natural disasters. She has and will continue to grieve deeply for the loss of mother, sister-in-law, adored cousin and many others. She also mourns when natural disasters steal homes and entire communities. The illness of an adored pet sharply tugs at her heart strings. Yet, I have never known Becky to allow grief to consume her; to prevent her from focusing her attention and energy on what needs to be done; what she can learn. She is, after all, an educator. Working with Becky on various community projects has always been a source of joy and a challenge to limit my whining. She is often the first to ask, “What is the short- and long-term goals? What are the moral principles or ethics which will form the boundaries of the path we choose?”
Project or task meetings which Becky is chairing are focused, brief and on track. I never worry about getting bored or having time to write the Pulitzer Prize winning 1000-page novel while a meeting she chairs grinds on and on and on!
It comes as no surprise that Becky might often be the lone person thanking the gods of rain for the liquid sunshine. Liquid sunshine will bring forth not only the flowers, melt the now dirty snow or provide relief to the summer heat, it will call forth the muse of ideas, dreams, and the promise of a kinder, gentler world. Liquid sunshine creates this cocoon which calls forth the quiet from which will spring the new workshop on dealing with change. It will call forth new words of comfort as she pens notes of sympathy, empathy, congratulations, and sometimes challenge. She is the consummate educator always choregraphing a dance of life which is comforting, challenging and full of joy.
When I have a pile of work on my desk or am wrestling with the muse to write a report or my daily blog I channel the Becky spirit of liquid sunshine. At first, it falls in gentle drops. Eventually it may arrive as a thunderstorm of ideas; of new opportunities. I also channel the spirit of liquid sunshine when I have a long list of chorettes or when I need to face new grief. The spirit of liquid sunshine often arrives with a warm sweater of memory which will hold the pieces of me together while the shards of grief pour out.
The fact that I am writing this on Palm Sunday; a day to celebrate the triumphant entrance of the Prince of Peace to the city; a day which we know will be followed by the rain of fear, anger, betrayal and ultimately the cross. Yet, we also know it will bring us to the empty tomb and the promise of new life; of new opportunities to have the liquid sunshine wash away the mistakes or sins of the past; of a new dance in which we feed the stranger, clothe the naked, look after the sick, give drink to the thirsty, and visit those in jail. (Matthew 25:37)
Written April 16, 2019
Jimmy F Pickett
coachpickett.org
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