I have a theory that my Higher Power, who I choose to call GOD, sends me “postcards” throughout the day to remind me that he/it/she is there and divinity is all around.

Sometimes it is easy to get so caught up in my life and work and school that I can forget about what is truly important. The Divine. These postcards must also come in zip file form too because I have memories of sunrises, sunsets and evening skies that I can pull up at any time. There was an evening not too long ago when I was coming home from Dripping Springs at about 7pm at night and the moon was so bright that there were moon shadows dancing everywhere. As I drove around the big bend towards Oak Hill, the biggest, fullest most round moon that I can recall rose over the hill to usher my car home. It felt magical, like something was a stir and that I should be paying attention.

I like to catch nature when and where I can and most especially in unexpected moments like tonight driving home at about 7:30 and watching the Boat Tail Grackles flying in pairs across 290 and back again like members of an aviary Cirque de Soleil . I wonder what they were up to? Those birds always seem to be in mid-conversation and have me convinced that they feel their business is just as all important as we humans seem to think about ours.

I’m noticing the new bands of wildflowers coming up now with the Bluebonnet old guard readying itself to turn over its seed for next year. All kinds of yellow flowers in all shapes and sizes. Lot’s of pinks and Scarlett ones too this year. And the wet weather creeks behind our house continues to run steadily on through our neighborhood and beyond. It is a comforting sound to hear the running water. It’s a happy sound that makes my heart want to settle down.

And don’t get me started about all the smells. The smell of freshly mowed lawns and the blossoms of China Berry trees. Who knew that those old trees could put off such an intoxicating scent? The birds in our neighborhood our just about besides themselves with ecstasy with all the rain we’ve been having. I listened to a red headed Woodpecker breeping at the top of his lungs today as he scooted around a wooden pole tapping out bugs with his beak and eyeballing Paul and I as we walked past below.

I’ve caught nature in the most amazing places and at unexpected times so I know you can too. Even if you live in the middle of Manhattan, you can find nature all around you if you will just move your antennae a bit to catch it unawares. I’m grateful to live in a city where it is possible to have a small piece of paradise not too far out from activities but just enough so that I can really enjoy what is here. Where else would I have learned that Box Turtles actually get pretty dang big? I “met” two such turtles last year at different times after it rained slumping through our yard or trying to cross the street to attend some important meeting I’m sure.

I have pondered the schedule of the Red Tail Hawks who act as centennials along Mopac Expressway and wondered how many families of Buzzards live together on the big electrical stand along 360. It’s a disconcerting feeling to look up from slow moving traffic to observe nature taking place all around us and then to return to the perspective of stalled anticipation. Let me go roll on a grassy hill any day and ponder the shapes of the clouds, I’ll take that over office politics or gossip or frantic deadlines.

Even if you just take a moment to watch a bird in flight or a bug crawl across the windowsill try to catch nature when and where you can, it’s good for the soul!