While standing at a rush hour street corner in Paris waiting for the light to turn green, bicyclists ignored traffic signs, screeching mopeds played Russian roulette, and the coming and going of people with busy lives taking refuge with their headphones and sirens creating nervous tension; I could not be distracted.
Here and now is all I have. This moment. This minuscule larger-than-life moment. This fleeting sensation of life swirling and cement under my worn shoes. The stark winter trees against a brilliant blue sky. The homeless, the garbage truck, the graffiti, and Olivia in her stroller, soft skin and little finger pointing to the pigeons on the ground.
At that moment, a curtain pulled back to a stage of peace. There of all places, an ah-ha moment found me. Seconds later, the light turned green for me to join the movement.
Your words deeply touch my heart always
Thank you
Love Jeanne
Posted by: Jeanne | 07 February 2023 at 11:35 PM
You found your inner peace on the corner. It's a good place to access.
Posted by: Diogenes | 08 February 2023 at 07:16 AM
Peace. Ahhh, a gift to soak in moments like this, thanks for sharing ❤️
Posted by: Susan in Zurich | 08 February 2023 at 08:55 AM
Nice one and so succinctly put! Jennie, NZ
Posted by: Jennifer Phillipps | 08 February 2023 at 10:01 AM
Your beautiful reflection reminded me of one of my favorite Thomas Merton quotes….thank you!!!
“ In Louisville, at the corner of Fourth and Walnut, in the center of the shopping district, I was suddenly overwhelmed with the realization that I loved all these people, that they were mine and I theirs, that we could not be alien to one another even though we were total strangers. It was like waking from a dream of separateness, of spurious self-isolation in a special world. . . .
This sense of liberation from an illusory difference was such a relief and such a joy to me that I almost laughed out loud. . . . I have the immense joy of being man, a member of a race in which God Himself became incarnate. As if the sorrows and stupidities of the human condition could overwhelm me, now that I realize what we all are. And if only everybody could realize this! But it cannot be explained. There is no way of telling people that they are all walking around shining like the sun.”
Posted by: Anna | 08 February 2023 at 12:36 PM
Thank you for putting this moment in words, Corey and sharing it with us. A lovely reminder…💕
Posted by: Kathy | 08 February 2023 at 03:29 PM
I really like your poetic style of writing
Posted by: rena.spain | 08 February 2023 at 05:45 PM
Thank you. I'm going to strive for more of those moments.
Posted by: Teddee Grace | 08 February 2023 at 06:12 PM
Wonderful, Corey! Thank you for sharing this and so many other things. Thank you also to Anna’s comment and sharing. Best to all.
Posted by: Cindy BL | 09 February 2023 at 05:20 PM
You describe the moment so poetically and well. Reminds me of 'Our Town' when Emily goes back in time to her childhood, sees her mother who is busy and hardly noticing her and says, "It goes so fast. We don't have time to look at one another."
Posted by: Lil | 09 February 2023 at 08:04 PM
Thank you for sharing a moment in time.
Posted by: marilyn | 14 February 2023 at 04:25 AM