As I rounded the block the first time today on my walk, I noticed how earnestly I was taking in everything I could lay my eyes on and also listening for what I could hear. I was expectantly seeking something to write about when it occurred to me that this would be a great practice to have in every waking moment.
In every conversation, I want to be listening for what I can learn and how I can contribute to the dialogue. I also want to be present for and possibly helpful to the person I’m conversing with. In a meeting, I want to avoid mentally projecting everything that is likely to happen and thus, zone out, discounting the possibility of hearing something new and inspiring.
It’s too easy to go through life on auto pilot thinking we already know for the most part how everything will unfold. We can enter a conversation and expect what we have experienced before, paying only half attention. We can do everything as if it is going to be nothing more than routine. Or, we can expect every single moment of the day to potentially bring gifts and surprises.
The more expectant we are to receiving gifts, the more gifts we will receive.
The more open our eyes, the more our eyes will be opened.
I have had my share of the winter blues. By this time each year, I am so over the dark gloom that has crept in and clouded my perspective. It’s a dark force I have to fight against every year. Today I am taking my walk in bitter cold temperatures, but with sunshine. Thank God for sunny reprieves internally and externally!
The sunshine has given me motivation to get out and walk where my spirit can be fed, my body can move and new ideas can come forth. Observations can take place in both my outer and inner world.
But what if it’s gray and rainy (for the umpteenth time) tomorrow, as the forecast predicts? Instead of chalking it off to another dreary winter day that may as well be over and done with so I can be one day closer to spring, maybe I can challenge myself to look for the surprises instead? Maybe on what would appear to be just another dreary day like all the ones that have come before, THIS one will be different somehow if I remain open and begin earnestly seeking to be inspired.
Where am I stuck? Where am I troubled? What if I looked again at the situation or the relationship with my eyes more open, challenging myself to see things in a different light? Challenging myself to see what I am missing, what I’ve missed on all the other days just like it before.
What is there to give thanks for that I have overlooked?
Expectancy gives birth to all things new. Rarely does something just happen that someone somewhere didn’t cast out a hope or a prayer for it first. Solutions may come in different forms. I have a friend who’s been praying for something very specific for almost two years. A recent, unfortunate incident is indirectly answering her prayers.
“But that’s not how I wanted it to happen!” Despite the hard circumstances, my friend’s prayers are still being answered. When we can be expectant and flexible, so many things are possible. My friend understands that more unexpected gifts will show up to help resolve the adversity that delivered her answered prayers.
With spring just around the corner ready to burst forth with all that this new season will bring, let’s view what’s going on in our lives with new vision too. What is happening right underneath our noses that we may be missing? How is what we have prayed and hoped for coming to light, even if it looks different than how we imagined?
For today, let’s open our eyes a little wider and be ready to unwrap the day with moment by moment anticipation, enthusiasm and presence.
