Keeping our Heads up

The other day, the wind was quite ferocious! Our little lake rarely sees whitecaps like this. I stood out on the deck, wrapped in a blanket, staring out over the water and watching it having its way. I looked to my right and left and took in the flowering pin-cherry trees. Their white flowers so dainty and yet so resilient, buffeted by the wind. Irrepressible, exquisite petals. When I looked up, the sky was filled with sun kissed clouds. That late magical afternoon sunshine captivating me. The brilliance of light shining on the tops of the clouds caught my breath. Looking out, the lake was in turmoil, white tipped waves driving towards the shore chased by the wind. The entire scene was so powerful. And then, I looked down. And all I could see was a patch of grass. No power, no intricate patterns, no flowers, no light, just patchy grass.

Perspective is everything. I started thinking how much our perspective matters as we carry our grief forward with us. If I choose to look down, all I will see is my aching shattered heart in the grass. And please know that there are times that I absolutely look down. Probably more times than I would ever want to share. Look down and sit in a pit of my heartbreak. But, when I choose to look up and around me, I see all of the beauty and potential and amazing energy that life has to offer me. That God has to offer me. When I look up, I see the sky, clouds, sunshine, trees, blossoms, leaves. When I hang my head, I see patchy grass. I know full well that this journey of grief involves looking up and looking down. What I hope is that as I keep walking forward, I look up more often than I look down.