Today –
a book . . . what I take in
a bird . . . what I put out
a drop of water . . . what brings Life

TODAY, like every day, I am looking for
meaning in my life, a sense of purpose
and I was reminded of some interesting
Truths by my early morning activities –
I read a little and then I took
a walk around my yard taking pictures

—A BOOK (or any thing that I “take in”)
One of my favorite books is by Viktor Frankl,
a survivor of the holocaust, nazi concentration
camps, and the loss of everything –
“Man’s Search for Meaning” and the main
message I stored in my heart from reading it.

TRUTH—everything, YES, EVERYTHING
can be taken away from me
EXCEPT MY ATTITUDE –
only I can choose my attitude,
only I can decide how I will choose to live
through whatever is going on in my world –
burdened and oppressed by
anger, resentment, depression, hopelessness
OR holding onto
hope for the future, recalling times of peace,
looking for pinpoints of Light

Many books have helped me on my journey
even in the middle of trauma and dark times
but this one planted a Truth that empowers me
whenever I feel defeated by circumstances
that I have no control over –
I can choose MY attitude . . .

—A BIRD (what I put out)
as I walked outside taking pictures, I heard a
VERY LOUD bird “singing” so loud it
could not be ignored and I walked around
until I located the tree that bird
was sitting in –
I could not believe it was such a TINY BIRD
making such a loud “song” that totally drew me
to find where it was coming from –
I had to find where it was sitting!

What, I wondered, was I “putting out” into the air
that would draw others to try to find me – to find
the source of the “song” I put out,
to find out where I was “sitting”?

—A DROP OF WATER (what gives life)
acknowledged as the life giving, life sustaining
substance, plentiful and essential, versatile
(creates, sustains, restores Life)
and this morning it was left from last night’s showers
on the grass, the flowers, the weeds – everything had
drops of water on its surface

ALL Life requires water – so the question comes down
to: “what gives me Life?” – do I spend my time taking
in what gives Life or do I spend my time taking in all
the “dirty water” flowing from the hearts and mouths of
those spreading darkness –

A drop of water – a simple choice to share an
encouraging word or a smile when checking out at
the store or giving what I can to someone on the street
who is in need or calling someone who cannot get out
to ask how they are doing . . . a drop of water is
a small thing, but can bring life to another person and
refresh my spirit!

Today –
a book . . . choosing what I take in
a bird . . . choosing what I put out
a drop of water . . . choosing what brings Life
TRUTH found all around me . . .

simple, not easy!