A Little Sweetness by Cheryl Moore

So many crises, one piled on another. How do I not sink under their weight?

I walk to the river almost every day, where I try to observe as much of nature as possible – birds, trees, gardens, the mood of the river’s flow. All these take me away from the daily drumbeat of the news. 

Yesterday I saw a night heron perched on a tree branch overhanging the water. He eyed me as I walked slowly by. I tried to reassure him I meant no harm. Just seeing him was a gift bestowed by the river.

Today an egret stood at attention on the far bank, ducks flew overhead, a crow in the street worked at cracking a walnut with his beak.

All these small details, these miracles of life around me, comfort me. Tomorrow, the next day and the day after, I hope to keep my eye on what is important to me. National and international events are important, not to be ignored, but within myself, I need a little sweetness to fight the bitterness.