World In Motion

Lake Hogan-photo by Libby Fife

While on my walk this morning, I stopped for a minute to savor the silence. For it being Memorial Day weekend, the lake is pretty empty. As I was standing there I looked around and considered how everything I could see seemed to be reaching in some way. Sounds funny but I bet if you walk out in your yard or even on the street you will start to notice that many things, including inanimate objects, seem to be in some kind of directional motion. Trees and their branches, grasses, the wires of a fence, and even the road you are standing on all seem to be reaching and running and moving in one direction or another. I am not suggesting anything profound here but it seems like all of us are constantly compelled to move somehow, to look forward or backward, to reach up for something, to sway or to walk, or simply to look up into the sky and wonder. Growing, stretching, craning our necks or stalks or stems. It sounds odd but it made me feel closely connected with everything I was seeing. And that felt profound. 

Libby

It's a Small World After All...

Yesterday, while in the Bay Area, I decided to do my grocery shopping. After loading my car and returning the cart, I got ready to back out of my space. The parking lot was very busy and I had to wait. Finally, as I started moving, I noticed a woman approaching my car. Truthfully, I was irritated that she appeared to be headed right for me and would be walking right next to my window as I was trying to move my car. Then as I was sort of stewing a bit, she approached my car and knocked on the window. Years of living in a semi urban center have made me hyper aware and so I wondered what this woman was going to ask for. Nothing but to say "hello" to me as it turns out. I knew her, you see. The lady was someone I worked with many years ago, nearly 20+ years or so to be somewhat exact. I took one look at her closely and got right out of my car. She looked as if she had been or was currently sick. After some discussion, she told me that she had had cancer (this was the third time as a matter of fact) and that she was all done with treatment. She underwent chemotherapy. (Even writing this word makes me a little sick.) In any case, she told me a bit about her family and then said that she had to get going. I told her that I was really glad to see her, that she was still here and doing well. What else could I say?

Seeing this woman rattled me a bit. I nearly cried on my way to my next stop. What are the odds of running into someone that you haven't seen in so long? I don't live in that area anymore. I thought with a shock that this was probably the last time I would ever see her again. It's not that dramatic but more realistic given where I live now and her age and health status. 

Seeing her really made me think. I had such an emotional response. Had I said enough to be of benefit to her? Did I say the right things? Moreover, was God trying to tell me something? (Writing that seems so literal; like a whisper in my ear maybe.) Without disrespecting anyone else's viewpoint, I don't believe that God literally moves people around like chess pieces. So, I don't believe that God placed this woman in that spot for my benefit or for hers. After some thinking on the way home, the most I can say is that perhaps the answer lies in what you come up with after the fact. How do you interpret an event and your reaction to it? I felt that seeing this lady was of benefit to me. That it was a call to pay attention, to reflect, and to appreciate the length of time that has passed; a call to imagine someone else's circumstances. And finally, it occurred to me that the world, for all of its vastness and complexity, can be very small and very simple. What a lovely gift.
Libby

Now You See It, Now You Don't!

Mt. Diablo image by Libby Fife

A smarter person than me will be able to piece this together!

I drove to the Bay Area today to have my teeth cleaned. Part of that drive takes me north on highway 680. Mt. Diablo is an ever present landmark and while driving on this particular stretch of road, the mountain chain is on my right hand side. It's visible from my dentist's office and it is visible from Heather Farms Park where I stopped to eat my lunch and then take a walk. I used to live in the city of Concord and Mt. Diablo was visible from my home too. Driving back on 580 towards Livermore you can catches glimpses of the mountain in your rear view mirror.  It's like the mountain is always there even if you aren't quite sure of it. Frankly, it's possible to feel "surrounded" by this chain of huge structures; almost like you are in a bowl of sorts. 

I included a link above to an article about the Diablo Range of which Mt. Diablo is a part. Here is what is a little crazy. I live about 2 hours away from the Bay Area now, specifically the area mentioned above. When I leave my driveway and go up the hill to the next street I can turn around and just see Mt. Diablo. From my house. Two hours away. The view eventually goes away as you get further east and north but really, I know it is still there even though I can't actively see it. And by now, the smarter person has already deduced my obvious point!

I hope anyone reading has had a great wednesday. I know I did:)

Libby