by the Soul Matters Sharing Circle team
Because the road
turns long and lonely sometimes,
I built this box of delight.
I picked up the lid
and into it I put…
My children laughing, together.
The look of giddy disbelief on my mother’s face when that black-capped chickadee swooped in and landed next to her knee, waking her up from her Alzheimered daze.
The bitter bite of rhubarb pie smothered by a spoonful of half-melted vanilla ice cream.
That field of fireflies at the bottom of the West Virginia hills.
Roahl Dahl or Neil Gaiman’s books read at bedtime.
Kick ball.
Being pulled through a snowy field on a saucer sled
tied to the bumper of my dad’s Chevy Vega with tire chains wrapped around every wheel.
Deep dish pizza. The smell of a tangerine. French press.
The first bite of a perfectly made croissant, proving that decadence sometimes purifies the soul.
An artichoke, with no limits on the butter.
Mixtapes made with tunes from the eighties.
Sweatshirts worn faithfully for 20 years, their holes a reminder that to be used up is a gift.
The first fall tree to boldly burn red while its less-brave siblings stay safely green.
Stumbling on black raspberries while walking in the woods;
No, scratch that. Instead let’s put in having a loved one save you some black raspberries they found in the woods.
Seeing the smile on my claustrophobic wife’s face
after finally snorkeling in the waters of St. John.
That sweet, night owl quiet when worries don’t seem so big or so scary.
My 6 year-old daughter writing “I love you Mom and Dad” on our car seat, in permanent marker.
The way subway street musicians suddenly turn strangers into fellow humans.
The feeling of getting warm after being cold.
My wife’s laugh, and how much I love her toes.
And the knowledge that all this will be gone,
but is not gone yet.
That’s what’s in my box.
I wonder what you’ll put in yours.
***
Each month, Soul Matters offers packets of inspirational readings, spiritual exercises, and questions for reflection. WUU Members can access packets by clicking on the link at the top of their Breeze profile. WUU also posts Soul Matters packets on the password-protected Members area of our website. To download this month’s packets from our website, click here: June Packets.
To request the website password, please contact the WUU office at office@wuu.org or 757-220-6830. If you are a WUU Member in need of assistance with Breeze, please contact the Breeze team at breeze@wuu.org.