It is a chilly day in April. Reminiscent of winter. Warm days are coming. On cold days, we remind ourselves of the Sun’s power. What a magnificent home we humans have. In a cold, dark universe, we enjoy abundant life. We have been to the moon but did not stay. The moon has no place for us without technology. Earth is our natural habitat. A walk in the woods reveals our sense of place. The rustling waters of a full creek and the blooming of our native Red Bud trees say we are home. ‘Pull off your coat and throw it in the corner,’ Bob Wills told us. The woods ask us to stay a little longer.

I am on the Writing Porch in the spring chill. It is my place to be. Looking out on our pond and listening to the birds sing brings new life to the old man. The nicest roofing person estimated my needs for roofing after a small leak in our master bedroom during the torrential rains this weekend. He discovered he could fix the problem in a few minutes and charged me nothing. That is extraordinary customer service! My belief in the kindness of others is renewed.

Storms have visited our neck of the woods frequently the last few weeks, and life storms are visiting our nation. We must be careful not to be co-opted for political expediency. This has happened throughout history—it is nothing new. If a political leader cares about you, watch what they do, not what they say. Are you getting poorer when they promised you prosperity? Are you losing your job for no reason but spite? Even Jerry Seinfeld could not return a jacket that he did not want for the reason of spite…

A settled mind brings calm. Purpose brings peace. Today is our life, not tomorrow or yesterday. We must live in the moment. We change. I am not who I was when I was 20. Positive change is a good thing. Bias and prejudice, conspiracy theories, and following an authoritarian leader are destructive. Wrapping the garment of exclusivity around us for warmth leads to frostbite. Trusting in the tender care of a narcissistic despot leads to sorrow.

Spirituality is real. We are spiritual beings in corporal bodies. We seek to see the face of God. We are journeying together on our way home. Our present reality is not all that there is. There is more just ahead and around the next corner. There is peace amid the storm.