Author: Molly Lin Dutina

52+ YEARS as wife to Robert! Still deeply loving that man!! He is often responsible for the photos I post. I try to always give him credit!
Posted on in Aging, Humor

Humor, Brain Farts or Just OLD?

Recently I had an annual doctor appointment with the Ear Nose and Throat specialist. Her appointments are usually quick, but I have had so many appointments lately that take much longer than anticipated – well, you just never know when you go to a medical office how long it may take.I had made a lunch appointment with a childhood friend for after the appointment.

I went to what I thought was the medical office and realized in the lobby that the building I was in did not have enough floors and was actually where new dermatologist office appointment is for September. So I drove over to the other place and realized in the parking lot that the building I was at was not right either. Went to the high rise building across the driveway arriving just in time for my appointment. The appointment went very fast.

When I emerged I could not think of anything I needed to shop for, so I went home. bob and I ate lunch, As I chewed the last bite I got a phone call from my friend asking, “Am I in the right restaurant?” Once we planned to meet for dinner and she and her husband went to the wrong location. Oh crap! I totally forgot about our lunch and I had actually been looking forward to it!

Told her to go ahead and order I would be right there. She said she would wait so we could eat together. I told her I just ate, but I will meet and order iced tea.

I grabbed my keys and jumped in the car. There is a funeral home near our house. As i drew near to it I saw a funeral procession was turning into the road. This was the largest funeral procession I had seen in a long time! The Ohio law reads

Excepting public safety vehicles proceeding in accordance with section 4511.45 of the Revised Code or when directed otherwise by a police officer, pedestrians and the operators of all vehicles, street cars, and trackless trolleys shall yield the right of way to each vehicle that is a part of a funeral procession. Whenever the lead vehicle in a funeral procession lawfully enters an intersection, the remainder of the vehicles in the procession may continue to follow the lead vehicle through the intersection notwithstanding any traffic control devices or right of way provisions of the Revised Code, provided that the operator of each vehicle exercises due care to avoid colliding with any other vehicle or pedestrian.

(C) No person shall operate any vehicle as a part of a funeral procession without having the headlights of the vehicle lighted and without displaying a purple and white or an orange and white pennant in such a manner as to be clearly visible to traffic approaching from any direction.

So all of us waited. I remembered that they would block each intersection as they went down the highway so I decided to take the back road to mall. While in stopped funeral traffic here comes a fire truck. He went on other side of the road then turned down street I had chosen.

When traffic moved I saw he had pulled into a driveway so I went on ahead on my chosen road. Next thing I knew, 2 roaring ambulances from the other direction were screaming towards me. Yikes this was a busy hurried trip to the forgotten lunch date! I made up a little time when all lights were green.

As I got to mall and there were 3 sheriff cars. That is a lot of officials to be having lunch together!

Drove to the location I believed was right, restaurant was not there. Circled mall, saw nothing. Called my friend. She said at the end next to another restaurant. I went to end of mall and saw 4 sheriff cars. Then saw I saw them pinning a guy to the wall outside Macy’s. He must have been a shoplifter. Yikes. Found the place. As I looked for my friend, the waiter said, pointing, “Your friend.” Fell into booth with an unbelievable story for my day.

We laughed together as she ate and I sipped really strong iced tea. I ordered an unusual dessert, Kunefe, for us to share. My bill was as much as my entire meal from the night before! Nope, we both agreed, we will not be going back there anytime soon! We put another date for lunch on the calendar for August and decided to text and remind each other next time.

Oi! the foibles of “Miss Molly” as I am so often called.

Posted on in Aging, Beagle, Faith, Humor, Marriage and Memories, Praise, Thanks

BTW Bob is Fine

How do you feel about the texting shortcuts? Will my grandson even know how to spell?

So, BTW, “By The Way” Bob wanted you to know he is just fine now. I failed to say that in my blog about when he was hospitalized and I learned that if you are going to be crucified you must hold perfectly still. Actually this morning he is out in this awful heat and high humidity taking an 8 mile bike ride on a dedicated bike trail. Hopefully he will drink all of the water he carries with him.

Here is another example of Bob’s indefatigable humor. He cut this out of the New Yorker and could not wait to share it with me! Blower, chain saw, and of course his beloved bagpipes! Me in the window trying to write this blog, or poetry, etc.

The weather has been just awful here in the Ohio River Valley as well as most of the USA. I walked a little over a mile this morning and once inside realized I was totally drenched. Again. I pass my neighbor, another Bob, as he rides his bike in the neighborhood. We are both equally tired of this draining heat.

Meanwhile the silly beagle is basking in the front yard. With all that fur does she not have a thermostat? On that note, she now wants in. Maybe she is smarter than I realize?

Been meaning to ask you, how do you punctuate your day?

Mine is puncture in the evening and puncture in the morning (insulin injections). Lord, I am grateful to have the insulin and other medications that I need. I do get tired of the needles though. So however you punctuate your days and evenings I hope in the routine you can find a reason to give thanks!

Blessings on your day and lots of humor I hope!

Posted on in Amazing Creations, Faith, Nature, Poetry, Praise, Thanks, Traveling

You Tube Videos by r m dutina

I just love when Bob captures some of my favorite subjects on video. Here are two of them. The Great blue Heron, my all time favorite bird for size and grace. And the water lily with “water cupped in center point.”

The Heron is described by Audubon Field Guide as: “39-52” (99-132 cm). W. 5’10 (1.8 m). Huge and gray, with massive bill, black crown stripe on whitish head. https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/great-blue-heron If you have ever seen this bird in flight the description of slow wing beats is apt.

The water lily quote is from my poem “Perhaps I could Ask You” https://wordpress.com/post/treasures-in-plain-sight.org/16894

I hope you enjoy these very short video clips as much as I do! I marvel again and again that our Father made these tremendous creations. Though He does not have to let us witness and experience them, He does. And I am blessed for the seeing.

Posted on in Challenge, Faith, Journal, Listen, Memories, Nature, Prayer, Spiritual discipline, Spiritual growth, Trust, Yield

Stunned by Truth in This Prayer

One week Lectio 360 was focusing on different ways of knowing the Lord. Below are their words.

I find this is my heart’s cry as I try to write this blog

What I know of God will only be a fraction of who the Holy Trinity is. Oh that I might make clear the little part I have understood during my life!

This is what the Lord says:

“Let not the wise boast of their wisdom
    or the strong boast of their strength
    or the rich boast of their riches,
24 but let the one who boasts boast about this:
    that they have the understanding to know me,
that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness,
    justice and righteousness on earth,
    for in these I delight,”
declares the Lord. Jeremiah 9:23-24 NIV

Father, I pray I am using my understanding to know You and the creation You have put before us for discovery of You and delight in Your creation. I pray You will continue to unfold the Scriptures for me. Holy Spirit continue to show and teach me the ways of the Almighty One.

May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. Galatians 6:14 NIV

When Bob lay dying 6 years ago I realized that no one could promise me he would survive the illness or that we would continue our marriage of so many years in the way we had become accustomed. When a woman hits a crossroads like that, for this woman at least, I had to realize that I must crucify my hopes and dreams and let the Lord Almighty have full control.

“I began to approach the situation with stillness but no presumption that I in any way knew the ultimate result. Though I was often unconsciously holding my breath, there was a stillness in me. The stillness came with a peace that I recognized as coming from God. Reporting the day’s events and blood work results to prayer partners via email, without forecasting the next step or event or outcome was about my only “productive” output.

“The stillness was related to Habakkuk 2:20 NRSV “But the Lord is in His holy temple; let all the earth keep silence before Him!” Another prayer that surfaced from the BCP “We do not presume to come to this Thy table trusting in our own righteousness but in Thy manifold and great mercies. We are not worthy so much as to gather up the crumbs under Thy table. But Thou are the same Lord whose property is always to have mercy.” (Holy Eucharist 1 P. 337)

“Part of my struggle was yielding to the facts and in stillness letting my wishes die, placing my hope in the plans of the Almighty. I could not see the outcome at all, but I trusted His goodness and His love for both myself and my family. I learned that crucified you must hold perfectly still. Ephesians 3:16 helped me to trust more. “I pray that, according to the riches of His glory, He may grant that you may be strengthened in your inner being with power through His Spirit, and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, as you are being rooted and grounded in love.” I prayed for Bob and our children to be strengthened. I prayed for myself to be strengthened by His Spirit with power penetrating to my innermost being. Yes, crucified you must hold perfectly still. I was not “going” anywhere.

I had to hold still, let go of my wishes and dreams. Let God unfold the future before me. True surrender.

I am His child.

I have only learned a small fraction about Who my God is. I barely know the Trinity. I am willing to continue to learn. In many ways, I know that the lessons from the not too distant past will carry me to the very end of my days. May Christ be glorified in and through me, I pray.

Posted on in Challenge, Faith, Prayer, Spiritual discipline, Spiritual growth, Thanks, Trust, Writing Life, Yield

Fan into Flame, Kindle Anew, Create Flames

For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 2 Timothy 1:6 NIV

Have you? Do you know the gift God has given to you? Are you doing your best to fan it into flame?

God continues to give His believers a holy calling, His own purpose, the grace He gave us in Christ Jesus ages ago.

He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time 2 Timothy 1:9 NIV

That is why I would remind you to stir up (rekindle the embers of, fan the flame of, and keep burning) the [gracious] gift of God, [the inner fire] that is in you by means of the laying on of my hands [with those of the elders at your ordination]. Amplified 2 Tim 1:6

Next week will be confirmation at St. Timothy’s by the Bishop. Bob was amazed at his confirmation that not only did the bishop lay hands on his head, but he also gently slapped him. This practice is not always continued today. I thought it was wonderful! As if to say, “Grow up ! Take this seriously! You now belong to Christ and the devil will do whatever he can to take you back.” The really great news is that NOTHING can take us out of the hand of Jesus!

“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. 30 I and the Father are one.” John 10:27-30

So for me, stir up, set afire the embers, fan the flame, keep your gift from God burning is a lifelong call. Recently I heard the call again from the Lord and am actively listening for how He would like to use my writing. I publish this blog and invite you to use it freely. A friend in Lexington was so moved by my state of aging (https://wordpress.com/post/treasures-in-plain-sight.org/16426) that she took it to the women’s meeting at her church. They loved it and laughed out loud with understanding. Even her husband was getting comments and he told me he had nothing to do with it!

My goal is to get the writing out there in any way the Lord sees fit. So if I come to mind, please pray for wisdom to know what to do with this stuff. I have been told by many that I have a gift. I just want to Honor the Trinity with how I use it.

Posted on in Challenge, Faith, Nature, Spiritual growth, Trust

Spider Killing Corner

You might remember this photo from our other house where a spider captured one of “our” hummingbirds?

I was SO angry I beat the spider to death with a broom. He was huge. So much for Franciscan values.

I try to follow my blogger friend Mike Powell at https://michaelqpowell.com/2024/07/09/blog-anniversary/ He is a dragonfly expert. His photography is most often amazing! Recently I was saddened to find this on the porch of our new house.

I know, even spiders need to eat. I was so sad to see what had been eaten and that the spider left me the remnants of its meal to clean up.

I know that many people, female and male are afraid of spiders. Some are even terrified. I began a story about fear in 1982 and added finishing touches in 1990. Hope this encourages you! No we cannot beat the enemy of our souls to death with a broom, but there are actions we can take.

Miss Muffet   FEAR 1982-1990©Molly Lin Dutina

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear,
but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” 2 TIM 1:7

I saw the devil as a decrepit, weazand, impotent old man, stooped over, no strength in his backbone, but malice in his eyes. He worked his way up an open staired metal ladder to the catwalks along the lights above a stage.

I sat on the stage in finger curls and white eyelet ruffles looking much like the storybook picture of Miss Muffet. I was happy, contented and apathetic (having or showing little or no emotion).

Using seemingly his last once of strength, this old impotent being reached the spot on the catwalk above me which he had chosen as his point of power. From inside his trench coat he pulled a marionette … it was a hideous, hairy spider with spindly octopus-like legs and invisible strings. The catwalk was edged with a railing made of steel tubular pipes. He rested his weight upon the cold steel, too weak to stand on his own. He dropped the marionette half-way down and adjusted his hands in the wooden frames that controlled the stings for moving the spider’s body. Then he dropped the spider all the way down, near my face.

As I caught sight of the hideous hairy spider from the corner of my eye, apathy fled and emotions stormed over me. The spineless, weak being above me had little strength to hurt me, but he chose to use my own power against me. I flailed out in fear and anger and my actions made that spider jump and fly through the air with more energy than the old fart could ever have put into it.

And at that juncture, the loving voice of my Lord broke into the scene and said, “Molly, the spider is fear. It has very little power on its own. But you give it your energy by flailing and struggling and assuming it is more powerful than it is. Think through this same scene and SEE that had you chosen to sit still and watch that spider, it would have dangled from strings and been as impotent to harm you as the one holding its frames. HE has no power over you unless you give it to him. Fear is a choice!”

My life has never been the same. I am not always fearless, but I do know that when fear comes I can choose to have it go. Seeing things a new way … choosing another perspective or point of view … RESPONDING instead of reacting are all keys to maintaining my peace and experiencing the comfort and presence of my Lord Jesus.

“I sought the Lord and He answered me and delivered me from all my fears.”  PS 34:4

My prayer is that you might learn not to give the spiders of fear power over you. I understand our first instinct is usually to swat a spider away, but we have the choice to learn how to respond instead of react. I am praying for you!

Posted on in Faith

Stand and Tip

When I wrote this in early 1990 I was looking at a lily pad like the one I recently photographed at Rocky Fork Lake.

Yes, I have posted this before, but I thought it was time to do it again. Lord, fill and use each of us I pray.

Perhaps I Could Ask You Just to Stand and Tip? ©1990       Molly Lin Dutina                    

Lily pads at the pond		
Grow on stalky stems
Leaves unfold an opened palm
Cupped at center point
Summer shower starts to drop
Mercurial glistening spheres
Gathering in the center spot
‘til bulbous weight smears silver drops
Into glistening globs
And tips the leaves so full
To pour their contents overboard
And rising from the spill
Stately shielded lily-hands
Begin the cycle once more

Keep my stem flexible, Lord
My hands open and cupped
Eager to receive Your all
Questioning not Your skill
Only trusting the power of Your love
To melt my rigid will

Drench me Lord 
In Your shower of love
Let me gather and drink my fill
Then spill over on those around
And rise to await Your will

Send water of Your Spirit
To tip me over, pour me out
Then wash over me once again
Fresh cleansing by Holy Words

Shine Your light through
This enshrouding mist
Color me with covenant this:
Abiding presence and constant love,
Indwelling grace that conquers sin
Transfigured rigid I
Yielded and bent
In Your service	
Spilling forth rivers of living water	
And giving rest to croaky voiced frogs	  
Who, when Spirit-kissed,
Become priests and kings	
Singing their praises to You.

Perhaps You ask me just to be Your lily leaf
Stand and tip


Posted on in Aging, Challenge, Faith, Illness and Health, Just do it

How Now?

no Brown Cow here. Just wanted to let you know that even some of my posts seem full of bitching and moaning, yet over all I do fairly well on any given day. Yes, pain and fatigue are my constant companions, but by the grace of God I make it through each day!

When we were in the Smoky Mountains we took a trail that required walking five miles one day and that was before noon!

The next day my body was not pleased with the after-pain, but I told myself, “Okay! You did that and did not die. When you get home you must begin walking more REGULARLY.”

June 10 at home I made .7 miles outdoors

And so I have. In spite of the recently brutal heat and humidity (even humid at 8AM) I am trying daily to take at least a one mile walk. Then tack on to that the other steps I take during the day, either walking the dog or going to the grocery and I am doing a reasonable number of steps. This morning I walked 1-1/2 miles in the morning. Yikes.

July 8 I did 1.54 miles and counting!

The only bad news is my toes are blistering. A marathon runner told me to use as much vasoline as I could under my socks. Well, that doesn’t work too well with band-aids. Today I set off with band-aids and silicone pads on some toes, then socks and shoes. Growing old is NOT for sissies! But being sedentary does not let a senior citizen live as long as if she were moving about!! Great for the diabetes, also.

Nothing gets me going as much as upbeat music, or daily morning prayer recording, or sermons from Harlem Renaissance church, any number of things to build up my soul along with my body and not necessarily in that order. Sometimes Lectio 360 comes first.

As that one gym shoe company declares, “Just do it!” swish

Posted on in Book quotes, Challenge, Faith, Just do it, Music, Praise, Spiritual discipline, Spiritual growth, Yield

So true!

Change will come, whether we wish it to or not. To fight it is like fighting the sunrise. Better to say, “Ah, welcome old friend. Here you are again.”

BRUCE COVILLE

“Change, ah welcome old friend!” That would be a major leap for each of us, I think. I do not think I have EVER met a person who likes change, who craves it. And when change does come, it is usually unlike anything most of us have dreaded!

Maybe we can learn to say, “Blessed are you, O Lord our God, King of the universe, who brings change into our lives.” Does that stretch you too far? Perhaps you can write your own version for adapting to change with the help of the King of the universe?

All this reminds me of a passage from Psalms. To often we think if we follow God he will give us what ever we want. This passage does not dispel that thinking, but I believe that is a very shallow interpretation.

Delight yourself in the Lord,
    and he will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4 NIV

To my way of believing it means if I follow God closely, and trust enough to learn to love Him, my desires will become His desires.

Martin Laird writes in A Sunlit Absence, “When we petition God for anything over a long period of time, something else begins to happen; we are brought into the depths of God and are joined with God’s will.”

If change has you faltering and stumbling perhaps it will take some time for you to embrace that change. Jesus eventually embraced the will of the Father concerning the cross. His heart turned to pleasing the Father in every instance. The cross was no different. His greatest goal seemed to be to delight the Father with obedience.

In a rather new song Abandoned by Benjamin William Hastings says ‘my one life endeavor to match your surrender to mirror not my will but yours.’ He goes on to say ‘completely, deeply, sold out completely abandoned, oh I surrender all. ‘ He describes all the ways we express our total relinquishment to the Almighty. Lyrics are below.

Verse 1  Something isn’t adding up
This wild exchange you offer us
I gave my worst, you gave your blood
Seems hard to believe

Verse 2 
You’re telling me you chose the cross?
You’re telling me I’m worth that much?
Well, if that’s the measure of your love
How else would I sing but


Completely, deeply, sold out sincerely, abandoned
I’m completely, freely, hands to the ceiling enamored
Oh, my one life endeavor
To match your surrender
To mirror not my will but yours
Oh I’m completely, deeply, don’t care who sees me abandoned
Oh I surrender all (Oh)

[Verse 3: Brandon Lake
I just can’t get over it
What kind of self control is this
You had angels at your fingertips
But on the cross you remained, yeah

Verse 4: 
And I can’t repay this kind of love
But I can praise with everything I got (Hey)
Since death had all its power robbed
Then just like the grave

Bridge
The whole of my heart
The best of my soul
Each phase of my life
Each breath in my lungs
Consider it yours Lord (Oh, it's yours)
Consider it yours Lord

The failures I hide
The victories I don’t
The battles I fight
Each crown that I hoard
Consider it yours Lord
Consider it yours Lord
All the glory forever
The grave that you won
The praise of the heavens
The kingdom to come
Consider it yours Lord
Oh, I know You'll never leave me abandoned ...
Posted on in Book quotes, Faith, Illness and Health, Journal, Just do it, Listen, Nature, Prayer, Spiritual discipline, Spiritual growth, Thanks, Trust, Yield

The Pathless Path

Pain and then some more pain. Unrelenting even with Tylenol. I am ground to powder.

Pain and fatigue. The pillars of my life with fibromyalgia. I am certain that osteoarthritis, diabetes and aging are not helping the situation.

Mayo Clinic at https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/fibromyalgia/symptoms-causes/syc-20354780 says the primary symptoms of fibromyalgia include:

  • Widespread pain. The pain associated with fibromyalgia often is described as a constant dull ache that has lasted for at least three months. To be considered widespread, the pain must occur on both sides of your body and above and below your waist.
  • Fatigue. People with fibromyalgia often awaken tired, even though they report sleeping for long periods of time. Sleep is often disrupted by pain, and many patients with fibromyalgia have other sleep disorders, such as restless legs syndrome and sleep apnea.
  • Cognitive difficulties. A symptom commonly referred to as “fibro fog” impairs the ability to focus, pay attention and concentrate on mental tasks.

Yep my pillars are pain and fatigue. A pillar is a slender, freestanding, vertical support; a column. I am not thinking a pillar of cloud by day or of fire by night. I am thinking the constant in my daily life, day or night. My pillars are not decorative such as the ones below.

One morning I wrote “I wake up in pain. Two fingers numb. Shoulder so stiff. Hip has not spoken up yet. This gets so old, tiresome, ridiculous. I choose to praise You, even when the pain is present. I love you better than life, even quality of life.”

Surgery was supposed to relieve the shoulder pain and return full function to my right shoulder. Surgery has the result of almost constant pain. If I do the stretches it is supposed to be fine by September of this year. Lord, I cry to You. Please come to me and help me in my distress.

I remember the lyrics from the Vineyard O Jesus Mine

O Jesus mine, O Jesus mine
You’ve filled us with a love divine
Our hearts have found no resting place but Thee, O Jesus, Jesus, Jesus mine.

I always thought I heard(Our hearts have found a resting place IN TIME)

The Celtic Prayer Book stated God has made us capable of life with Him and thus we are ever lonely and insatiable.

What occurs in private with Him is rarely seen in the open. What some admire about a Christian’s life they also have no idea how it actually came about. There is longing and at times anguish in His presence, which is often only seen after its transfiguration. Only God can transfigure longing and anguish.

Lord, make me aware of Your presence with me, even in the morning pain and afternoon/evening hip pain. Help me adapt and cope I pray.

In A Sunlit Absence by Martin Laird  P. 123 He writes “The pathless path of prayer knows only how to move through struggle; and the only way through is through – not around, over, under or alongside, but through.” Struggle – with chronic fatigue and pain, not knowing how to fulfill the call to create something else with the writing, how to ….

Moving through struggle with pain and fatigue is not easy to accomplish day after day, hour after hour. Yet millions of people do it daily, hourly, weekly, monthly year after year.

Perhaps my sharing is all too transparent for those of you who do not have physical struggles? For the rest of us I hope this is read as a means of helping you understand some of the ways I get through these times. I know full well that God is no respecter of persons and ways He has touched me He can touch you with also. (Acts 10:34)

In this chapter of Laird’s book he is describing how a woman learned to struggle beyond her depression. He wrote

The fourteenth-century anonymous English author of The Cloud of Unknowing suggests that instead of pushing away or clinging to thoughts and images that appear in our awareness, whether distracting or attracting, we should simply “look over their shoulder.” This ingeniously playful advice requires a serious and cultivated inner awareness. …We have to meet distractions with stillness instead of commentary. This implies not only do we allow distractions to be present but we also allow them to help us steady our gaze as we “look over their shoulders, as it were, searching for something else.”

This flowing vastness of simple awareness, what St. Hesychios calls ‘the sun rising in the heart,’ is untouched by depression just as it is untouched by time, by age, by pain, fear, anger or greed, or by anything else – though simple awareness is never separate from any of these any more than a spoke of a wheel is separated from its hub. The spoke is not the hub, yet the hub centers all the spokes.

Laird goes on to teach that although this is harder to do than to write about, there comes about a stillness that is from the simple awareness. We are to gaze into that stillness.

Yes, I have the constant pillars of pain and fatigue in my life. They do not, however, need to be the constant focus of my attention. Though I may feel ground to powder, I can look over the shoulders of those two life ingredients and find the vastness of simple awareness. Awareness that ‘there is always something to be thankful for!” When I am especially having difficulty it can be helpful to allow myself some self-pity, but only for about 5 minutes. Beyond that is NOT helpful. Sitting in silence, not trying to add words to the situation, but observe it, allow it and to look ‘over its shoulders’ that is most helpful to me. I do not always accomplish this, do not pull it off every single time. But the sooner I return to this practice the better off I am.

Just as the deer walks the forest in the same pattern regularly, yet does not wear a path like humans seem to, we are called to follow this ‘pathless path of prayer.’ The photo in the opening reminds me of this.

The stillness that come from simple awareness. Certainly a pearl of great price to seek after.

 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. 46 When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it. Matthew 13:45-46

May your heart rest in this Jesus, a simple awareness of the goodness of life, regardless of your struggle.