Today is good Friday. Today I awoke again resurfacing from a dream with my Linda. It has stayed constant with me all day. I cannot shake the feeling it left with me. How strange are dreams that allow us these visitations and impart with us questions of what they mean. Am I left with these things on purpose to contemplate for hours on end? I have chosen an uneventful day, walking outside with my dogs… sitting outside to watch the birds, nothing extraordinary, sort of. Unless you choose to see extraordinary in the ordinary. Ready? I had an otter walk … not run… through my backyard a little while ago. I mean, how often does that happen? Really. Raise your hand if you can say that you live next to a heavily populated subdivision and an otter lazily strolls through your yard. I don’t know about you but I found it extraordinary! An otter. Maybe I’m silly but I am just now settling down from the sheer astonishment like a little kid in a candy store- that I just had an OTTER take a walk in my yard.
Another extraordinary event in my day was presented to me in the following. Per usual, I was mulling over the reasons for existence on this Earth and why we endure the things we must as humans. Am I the only one? Ok, I probably spend more time with it than the average person lately. I was drawn back to my shred of knowledge on literature and decided that I would start some unconventional research into grief and death- not simply how to deal with grief or death but more…how others channeled it through them in various ways. Without rhyme or reason, I opened my search engine and typed in Dante’s Inferno. Which led me to why did Dante even write this masterpiece in the first place and what significance does it have to me today. Interestingly enough… the beginning of the Inferno starts on Maundy Thursday. It finishes up… on Easter morning. Do extraordinary things happen all day long? I think they do. Why today? Why would I do this TODAY? Maybe I am reaching. Maybe I am not. Maybe it’s a coincidence. Maybe it was meant for me on this day. You can choose. I am not in a place to reason away gifts these days. I believe there is something in there for me to find. It was during the research that the otter decided to stroll through my yard, directly in my line of site out my back window–from where I sit to type on my laptop- you choose. I truly believe when God gives you these “winks”, it means we have recognized something meant for us. We should pay attention and gather the message intended. I’m just saying.
Why did Dante write The Divine Comedy? It is said that he wrote it during his exile from Florence. That he had been involved in a political “thing” and was part of the losing party therefore exiled. It was during this time that he needed guidance. I think like most people when life is rolling along and we’re living the “grind”, perhaps our quest for guidance is minimal. We’re living life as planned…work, relationships, interests, hobbies, etc. And while we may pray for continued guidance, we are afforded the luxury of routine. We seem to have things ‘on track’ so ‘God just help us not mess it up!’. It is during the time of crisis that we beg for resolution or guidance to find our way again… back to a better way out of crisis, turmoil… routine doesn’t sound so bad when the world is disrupted. Dante finds himself exiled from his homeland. Sounds pretty benign till you think about it. Exiled. I’ve experienced some very distinct traumas in my life. Several very definable events. One was the loss of a job that I loved more than I can tell you. In a sense, it was like being exiled. Exiled from a place I called home, people I called family and everything I loved in a part of my life that definitely defined who I am. I prayed for guidance. I grieved the loss of it all. I am imagining Dante doing the same. Why am I telling you this?
Healing. Healing whatever trauma you’ve experienced in your life. I am surviving another significant trauma life has unexpectedly given me. Today I found material that gave me something extraordinary and I want to share it with you. What I gained is too much for one post… so I’m going to break it up. I believe it to be EXTREMELY helpful to me and hope it will to you so I really hope you’ll continue with me to the next post!!!
Today may I leave you with this message of hope… of faith. When you’re running in what feels like survival mode and life has been shook up… accept the gifts that come to you in whatever form they come. If an otter walks through your yard… listen, I just don’t think it matters if people call you crazy! Its an otter. In your yard. (Unless,of course you have a koi pond & he’s got an expensive fish in his mouth in which case theres no need to remind you to:) Pay attention. 😁
If you’re running a life of gracious routine… don’t discard the gifts that might remind you that needing guidance could be but a moment away…slow down. Look around. Breathe it in. Pay attention. 🌹
What I found today helps me to explain why Dante wrote what he did. Why we do what WE do. As a nurse, I think I NEED to know and understand why… understanding that there is a physiological reason has given me a peace I’ve been craving. Whether its grief over loss of a loved one, a career, sudden change in life… whatever it is, how we move on is all different-some good- some great-some maybe not so good. But there is HOPE for doing our best. Thank you for coming along and please return asap!
Blessings to you today and everyday💕 & look for the otter in your yard today! +JHW
Previously Letters to Linda 