Do you ever notice those threads that weave through and bind together different moments in your life?
When I was a little girl we had a small magnolia bush in the front of our house. Since then it has become a large two-story tree! Each year there are buds in April and beautiful blossoms by May, just in time for Mother’s Day. Due to the pandemic, climate change, and other circumstances I haven’t been able to see the blossoms on Mother’s Day at my childhood home in recent years. So, I’ve created a new tradition – going to visit the flowering magnolia trees near me! This year, with fluctuating weather, I had been concerned about the trees – wondering if they were getting the right light, temperature and rain they needed to thrive. And lo and behold the blooms have started to arrive! This past weekend my family and I made the annual pilgrimage to our local arboretum to witness their beauty. We noticed the different shades of pink, white, and yellow. We noticed how the blue sky made a beautiful backdrop. We saw there were trees in different stages of growth – some with buds, some with withered blooms, and others in their prime. We heard birds and squirrels navigating their way through the leaves and branches and heard other families express their joy and awe in the presence of the trees.
And it all made me realize what an absolute gift that small magnolia bush has been in my life. My connection to its rhythm keeps me connected to the rhythm of life around me now. What a gift to simply notice what’s here, what’s alive, what is present!
What is a thread that weaves through your life? What is the connection? What does it invite you to be present with today?