Trask Avenue

Church bells tolled throughout the morning.

For America this is a day of remembrance and solemn ceremony, a day swimming with emotion. Today these emotions clash, tumble and spill together with heightened potency and poignancy. Sadness mixed with anger mixed with grief mixed with frustration mixed with loss mixed with melancholy mixed with pain mixed with love.

Today is also much more. Today is today.

Today is a day to hold those you love a little tighter, appreciate your good fortune a little more. Today is a day to recognize the tremendous generosity of those folks who think of you as “friend”. Today is a day to share a laugh and, maybe, shed some tears. Today is a day to move beyond the stilted nods of acknowledgement with the people you often pass by but never speak with and pause for a moment to say, “Hello. How are you?”

Today is a day to look up at the clouds and keep in mind the sun always waits patiently behind them. Today is a day to remember all those swollen rivers, streams and marshy fields are as much a part of life as we are. Today is a day to savor the rich, loamy aroma of the earth and the lilting fragrance of wildflowers.

It is inevitable that on this particular day circumstances prompt reflection. But this particular day also holds a special and wonderful power – the power to push back into our consciousness an appreciation that today, tomorrow, and every day thereafter, deserves singular attention to the blessings of life.

Church bells tolled throughout the morning. Tomorrow they will return to their normal schedule. That’s okay because tomorrow we won’t need reminding that, despite the often difficult and heart rendering trials life tosses at us, we’re forever surrounded by splendor and grace.

Note: Originally posted September 11, 2011