I have
walked our 2 dogs, Molly & Ivy, past this large oak tree on the corner of
our block dozens of times since we have moved here just over a month ago. It
just seemed an ordinary oak tree with a large, unremarkable trunk. But this morning when I was walking the dogs,
they paused for an unusually long time at the base of that oak, sniffing all
around as they do. While standing there
this time my eyes traveled up the trunk of the oak to an amazing sight! The branches of the oak were covered in small
ferns and other lush green plant growth.
All of it was clearly not part of the oak tree, but rather was evidence
of a living, thriving plant community that had taken up residence on that
tree. There seemed to be an entire
ecosystem in the branches of that oak tree.
But I had never noticed it before because I had never looked up! I had never lifted my gaze from the ground to
take in what was around me on a higher level.
How often
do we go through our days with our gaze focused on the ground!? For the past two months that has been where
my gaze has been directed. It has been
locked on the ground in front of me as I have been totally task-oriented and
focused. For the past two months I have
been consumed with the tasks of closing down our life in Miami and restarting
our life in Savannah. It was not an easy
move.
While our
move was complicated by the onset of health issues and unexpected knee surgery
for my spouse, I suspect that no move in our modern, hi-tech society is
easy. There are just so many tasks
involved in relocating a life: from closing down accounts (and in some cases
returning equipment), notifying all sorts of people and businesses of address
changes, boxing up your life (and in the process sorting through all your
possessions to decide what needs to be moved, what can be sold, what should be
given away, and what needs to be trashed) scheduling the move (including
assistance with loading the truck), scheduling the start-up of utilities and
services in the new location, actually moving all your possessions and then the
process of unloading the truck and unpacking the boxes.
Of course,
this is just a microcosm of most of our lives in general. For me I can point to
any number of rationalizations for what has been transpiring in my personal and
work life for the last number of years that have kept me focused on
accomplishing the task in front of me and when it was done moving right on to
the next task presenting itself. This is
often praised as good concentration; being focused; responsible; strong
work-ethic. But in the process we miss
so much.
With my
gaze focused on the immediate task, on the ground in front of me, I miss the
hidden ecosystem thriving above my head.
I miss the faces of the people I pass on the street. I miss the beautiful blue sky above, and the
cotton ball clouds gently floating along.
I miss the opportunities to pet the dogs, to play with grandchildren, to
gaze with love in my wife’s eyes. I miss
the possibility of engaging in relaxed conversation with dear friends and
sharing memories and stories with extended family. I miss the chance to relish and treasure the
places which make the place I live special and then wonder when I leave why I
never visited that place or did that thing.
There is
so much more to life than attending to tasks and responsibilities. While many of those things are necessary and
need attention, if that is all we pay attention to, we will miss so much of the
beauty, wonder, and special moments of life which truly lift it and make it
unique and worthwhile. One of the gifts
of retirement is unfettered time. I want
to make sure it does not become frittered time and one way to do that is to be
sure to LOOK UP more. It is also the
gift of Sabbath time, which God offers us once each seven days and encourages
us to find even more opportunities to embrace.
Taking time
to LOOK UP is one action which might lead to more Sabbath moments.
