Dearest Readers,
O What a World and All Its Glories Reign.
As the plane descended over Montreal at 7 a.m. this morning and I looked over the city I once knew so well the landmarks that stood out most prominently were the houses of worship. I could see churches, synagogues and mosques. Every few blocks a building erected to the Magnificence of Being. Corruption may exist in religion but at its heart religion really is (or ought to be) about celebrating the Wonder of It All.
How apropos, then, that I happen to be reading A Prayer for Owen Meany, by John Irving, which is all about faith and the lack thereof. As I reached the section of the book dedicated to Owen Meany’s funeral and read paragraph after paragraph of praise for the Divine I looked out and saw below the efforts of our desire to connect with the Divine above. Or within. Heck, everywhere!
O What a World and All Its Glories Reign.
Arriving at the apartment I used to call home, my glowing, pregnant sister fresh from the shower greeted me with her big, round belly growing a new person and again I was struck by the Power of Life and all its Mysteries.
After walking around the old neighbourhood and buying fresh Montreal bagels I saw a bird splashing in a puddle, dunking its head, shaking off the excess water and repeating the exercise again and again, insuring that its feathers were suitably clean for the day ahead.
O What a World and All Its Glories Reign.
Driving to Ottawa from Montreal where the land between is lush and green and farmer’s fields stretch beyond the highway I saw white, yellow and purple splashes of wildflowers lining the soft shoulders of the road; red-winged blackbirds perched on long grasses waving in the wind; and white puffs of cloud dotting the perfect blue sky.
O What a World and All Its Glories Reign.
This is only Day One of the 8-week journey. Such riches! Such wealth, my friends!
Inspiring Message of the Day: Am I able to stop and notice the extraordinariness of this Life today? Can I see beyond the banality of everyday living to connect to the Experience of Being? I will do my best with this practice for there truly are wonders to behold all around me.
