Beginning with Good Things

The full moon on the evening of the 30th was a sight to behold, with the planet Jupiter shining so bright right beside it. I was roused out of bed–snug as a bug all rolled up in my blankets against some of the coolest temperatures we’ve had–near midnight by the beep of an incoming text message from my friend Francisco, to go outside and look at this once-in-83-years spectacle when the fifth planet from the sun is clearly visible to the naked eye. It was a chore untangling myself from the blankets then bundling up in shawls to go outside, but it was something not to be missed. The moon was exactly the stuff poets write about, and Jupiter was a blue-white diamond shining beside it. What a truly awesome sight it was.

Fireworks are nice–up to a point, before it gets too smoky and polluted–but nothing beats Mother Nature when it comes to putting on a good show. The canopy of stars and planets (the non-twinkling ones) laid out on a clear night sky, a perfect moon, a falling star or a shower of stars... What laser or light show or computer-guided pyrotechnics can compare with these? Then think of fabulous sunrises and sunsets, a flower in full bloom or one newly budded, a raging waterfall, a sandbar gracefully slithering as far as your eye can see.

It is the first day of the new year as I write this (yes, we are at work but no, I am not trying to make you feel guilty), and though I’m not a big one for resolutions, I told myself that every morning when I wake I will thank God for one specific thing; this morning it was the privilege of being awakened by the chirping of birds at my window (they were probably in animated birdtalk over how polluted the air was with all my neighbors’ paputok!). This "resolution" came about when I realized a few days ago how hard-pressed I was finding things to be thankful for and upbeat about; pessimism had become chronic. I was at times not only seeing the glass half empty, I was seeing how dirty the glass was–and probably chipped too!

So until such time as I can be thankful for a booming economy, an efficient bureaucracy, taxes well spent, disciplined drivers and a perfect roast duck coming out of my oven (up to now, the perfect duck is still store bought), I will take my joys where I can find them and glory in the things–and people–that God in His goodness has lined my path with.