Ashes to Beauty
This week the flowers bloomed. The snowdrops. The crocuses. The daffodils. And I wasn’t ready. Piles of oak leaves from not just this year, but last year as well, covered the earth. Valiantly, the young stems broke through the leaves and emerged into the light. Miraculously, flowers bloomed.
Where do you see hope this spring?
I began the hard work of clearing space. I raked the heavy magnolia leaves and seed pods. I pulled armloads of oak leaves out of the azaleas and rhododendrons. I gently broke away the leaves that restricted the flower stems. The flowers emerged, no longer eclipsed by the remnants of winters past.
What are you clearing away?
I am so often unaware of the beauty in my life. I get lost in the distractions of daily living, concerns over days yet to come. Sometimes, shadows of the past obscure the joys of today.
Today, I will notice. I will take the lessons learned on my yoga mat and will apply them – I will breathe in deeply and create space for beauty. With a heavy sigh I will let go of the weight of my worries. With a light exhale I will soften the tight muscles of my neck and shoulders. As my body relaxes and my mind clears, I will notice. Today, I will see the beauty rising from the ashes.
“May you always be the one Who notices the little things That make the light pour through, And may they always remind you: There is more to life and there is more to you.” -Morgan Harper Nichols
Courtesy of: Linda Shaffer, Align Christ Centered Yoga
