“OF CHANGE, HEARTS, FULL MOONS, AND LOVELY SUNRISES”
Are you familiar with the Joe Raposo Sesame Street song? It has a nice, catchy tune and really profound lyrics.
“I nearly missed a rainbow
I nearly missed a sunset
I nearly missed a shooting star
I nearly missed a rainbow
I nearly missed a sunset
I nearly missed a shooting star going by
While lookin’ at my feet, at a crack in the sidewalk
An old tin can by the side of the road
I nearly missed a rainbow
I nearly missed a sunset
I nearly missed a shooting star going by
While studying a brand new hole in my sneaker
And finding a quarter and an old bus token
I nearly missed a rainbow
I nearly missed a sunset
I nearly missed a shooting star going by
Looking down at the ground means you know where you’re going
No head up in the clouds to lead you astray
But you can’t ever have any kind of dream that way
Looking down at the ground means you know where you’re going
No head up in the clouds to lead you astray
But you can’t ever have any kind of dream that way
While looking at my feet at a crack in the sidewalk
An old tin can by the side of the road
I nearly missed a rainbow
Elmo nearly missed a sunset
I would’ve missed a shooting star going by
I nearly missed a rainbow
Don’t want to miss that sunset
I wouldn’t miss a shooting start going by
Passing me by
Passing me by.”
Sometimes, we all lose our focus.
So, I was waiting for my ride to the twelve-step meeting this morning. I was walking around looking for change in the parking lot at Planet Fitness, keeping one eye out for someone arriving for an early morning workout. People who haven’t had their second cup of coffee can be a little less than alert than they need to be.
I found a dime, which gave me great cause for rejoicing. It also inspired me to keep looking. No more money, I’m afraid.
And then it hit me: It was a cool, clear morning with a big bright full moon. The sun was already making its presence known, and there were some lovely fluffy clouds in the eastern sky, roughly the color of orange sherbet. And here I was, with my head down, looking for a few coins! I was missing the real treasure.
This is especially ironic because, just an hour or so before my treasure hunt, I had read the following words from Matthew 6:21, in my 3-Minute Retreat from Loyola Press:
“For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be.”
Then the retreat master for the day made these simple, yet profound, comments:
“Whatever we claim as treasure in our lives is where we put the bulk of our effort and energy. Over time we generally grow in understanding of what is really important to us, and we let go of some things in order to have the time and energy for things that are more important. For people of faith, treasure is found in the love God has for us, in our love for God, and in the love we have for others. The choices we make each day are based on what we treasure.”
I would only add that God’s creation is also something we should treasure.
So, I quit looking for coins in the parking lot, and instead spent a bit of time worshiping the God who made full moons, sunrises, and cool mornings.
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