But, today —

Waking to dark skies, dense air and T minus one to debt d-day —

I am discovering it with a new heart.

I must be the peace I seek —

No matter what.

This is level five peace behavior.

Kind eyes.

Loving thoughts.

Sincere smile.

Humility and grace.

No matter what.

Sans the scent of lavender and absent a heartfelt namasté from the other guy.  

In the face of what we may perceive as rude or inconsiderate or downright stinky.

When we're being ignored.  Dismissed.

Even attacked.  

With every breath and every step, we can choose peace.

Or not.

Moment by moment, there are things that happen, or don't happen —

Things that are said, or not said —

That can easily justify any one of a large array of negative emotions or reactions.  

The elevator, grocery store, parking lot, inbox or —

Fill in the blank.

If I want to feel misery or express anger, frustration or utter despair — I don't have to look beyond my own big toe.

I can easily find a million little ways to spend my energy down.

But, I pray to be aware that I always have an option to —

Buy up.  

Even in darkness, I can choose to —

Keep it light.

Do you remember the last time you experienced a bad turn?  What was your response?  Did you choose peace? 

So I open the pretty packets and liberate the tiny feathers of dark dry has-blooms to —

Become —

Again.

With hopeful finger tips, I push them gently into the soil of my longing and —

Tuck them in with faith.  

Then water —

And wait.   

On day three I decide to take a peek.  

But an urban rat beats me to it.

Dirt and dreams of soaring zinnias disturbed, I water again and wait while hedging my bets with an old grade school trick — a second packet of seeds in a row of promising paper cups on the window sill —

Inside.  

With this, I can't help thinking about how important it is to pair discernment with faith — especially when it comes to our sacred intentions.  The mystery of growth — whether it is self-awareness or a relationship between two hearts — involves both light and dark, roots and shoots, stillness and movement, hanging on and —

Letting go.

Some of what happens is out of our control — and wondrously so!  

But a fair amount can be influenced by our attitudes, actions — and intentional presence.  We can bring our sacred seeds inside until they can keep the squirrels away on their own.  We can improve our soil conditions and create healthy space between our roots and the roots of others in our pots.  We can stretch for the light together — 

Until it's time to bloom again.

What are the sacred seeds in your life today?  Do you feel like you are giving them the best conditions possible to bloom?  If not, what will you do differently to nurture them?