cloud meditation

this morning it was impossible not to notice that i was having a difficult time concentrating on several of the very left brain tasks that needed accomplishing today. since it's a gorgeous day, i thought a brisk walk with the dogs might help get me get centered. i practiced touching the ground with my feet as i walked with awareness, smelling the fragrance of apple tree blossoms and pine, while listening to a variety of bird chips and songs ringing out in the distance in all directions. When i looked above me i saw big puffy white clouds cast in a deep blue sky sea. they immediately caught my attention and for a moment almost took my breath away with their beauty. i stood still and watched for a bit, until my neck pain called for my attention, but i didn't want to stop watching them - it felt like the most important thing i could do in my life at the moment, much more important than doing all the paperwork and business tasks that called for my attention all morning. So i brought a thick comforter outside and laid it on a patch of bright green spring grass, in the shadow of 'heather', the pine tree named after our oldest daughter. i was instantly filled with memories of lying on the grass looking up at the sky when i was a child - how could i have forgotten how absolutely divine and mysterious it is? i always know it is in my head but i must lie down on the grass and look up and watch and experience it in my heart to really *know*. at moments, there was pure silence, not a single sound, how incredible the emptiness sounded!! mostly there were occasional sounds...bird chirps, the wind rustling the leaves of the poplar trees (i love that sound), and once i heard the sound of flapping wings as a large black raven flew directly over me. gratitude flows out of my pores right now for this beautiful experience called life.