BLESSED BE

This morning I buried my head in my big tom cat's warm fur to feel his purring as I rubbed him. This is quite a step for both of us because he is very aloof, and I was raised with the notion that burying your nose in any animal's fur was instant death. We were in a soft space together, time stopped; I was captive to the comfort he offered. Suddenly he sneezed! We were both taken aback! I broke into hilarious laughter! He fluffed himself and laid down again, as if annoyed by my outbreak, as if trying to recapture his pride.

This incident was not a huge blessing in the scheme of things, not like the compassion of friends when one is suffering, or the gift of healing touch on a body wracked with pain. This was a micro moment that swept me away from time, from the what-happens-next mentality. Exchanging breath with a horse staring down at me as I place my little nostril next to his giant one qualifies. There's millions of them! They happen spontaneously and predictably. My morning walk, for example, when I fill myself with the sights, scents, and sounds of the pre-dawn world, offers predictable blessings.

"Blessed Be" is a lovely offering. But more than that it is a profound statement of truth: in the world of being, blessings arise without effort. We are swimming in an ocean of them, if we but dive in. Even in a difficult interaction with a family member or co-worker, where is the stunning part? The color of a shirt, the glint of light off an earring, the odd melody of the challenging words? I remember a piece from Thich Nhat Han about the red traffic light being the eye of the Buddha. No flowers to stop and smell? Inhale the cool mountain air, listen to the one bird singing from the pines. This is your day to find the hidden source. Blessed be, Blessings always.