May 13, 2021 => I woke up this morning feeling a little lonely before anxiousness turned to self-critical, analytical doubts until finally, talking and listening to myself provides an option. ‘Just roll over and sleep, forget everything else, and spend the day in bed.’ It is 10 am., the perfect time to pull the covers up and roll over to close my eyes. I hear and envision, “Remember the expression, Your eyes are bigger than your belly?” So then it should be no surprise what happened next, even with my eyes closed, until they weren’t anymore.
Your Eyes are Bigger Than Your Belly
My Parable
Months of meticulous needlework on display with brilliant white, silver, and gold filaments daintily laced into hand-dyed lavender tablecloths showcase the artisan's creative powers and skillful arrangements. Finest silver cutlery painstakingly polished to mirror reflecting chandeliers dangling hand-cut diamond-shaped shards of glass hanging below vaulted ceilings, accent the gold-rimmed china platters and crystal, filigree-stemmed goblets.
A sumptuously enticing feast, exquisitely plated, decorates multiple tables arranged under the highest domed, hand-carved wooden arches signifying the central theme in a star-shaped pattern within the massive room, expanding views through porticos extending beyond walls into fragrant, endless gardens.
What captures my eyes? What about the smells? My appetite increases. Wow! Every electrical impulse fires all neurons, senses on high alert, hungering to experience all. Where do I begin? Feast!!
Suddenly my plate becomes alive with variety, colours, smells, and deliciousness, with simply a thought and desire, in a magical explosion of tastes that satisfies my hungering. Delicacies beyond imagination and belief magnify as I look, a menu prepared just for me.
My bloating stomach bulges into my heart and mind as I struggle to swallow the tiniest piece of a dreamy, melt-in-your-mouth appetizer. Without lifting a fork to my mouth, hunger abates with appreciative incredulity. I know! Then I bow my head.
Slowly raising my eyes, staring at the meal in front of me, I notice it is barely touched, yet I feel full to overflowing. I taste abundant goodness. Sensing a measure of selfishness without gluttony, enjoying the immensity of the feast before my vision, I cringe against myself. The microscopic amount my privileged palate needs to satiate astounds.
Silently, symbolically eating humble pie, I exclaim, "I am sorry. My eyes are bigger than my belly. I truly feel blessed. Please forgive my weaknesses and propensities that lead me astray in my thoughts and actions. I am grateful for the hungering and graciousness I receive from the breath of morning dew to the feasting moments of quiet, magnifying, or explosive experiential senses to the drawing of night's curtain. I wish to remember, yesterday, today, and tomorrow, always and forever." I will most likely fail to remember at times when threatening clouds drift overhead. Vicki, look above the clouds, and feast!
Life’s happenings for me include learning by parable.
Contemplating and reflecting
enlightens, lifting heart and mind.
A harmony of worth, singing,
opening eyes, no longer blind.
At least for a time,
reminders will come,
my desires, a rhyme,
my hunger’s anthem.
My table o’erflowing, a feast,
opulent in heavenly design,
feeding my soul with, not the least,
mountain peak views, oh so sublime.
Stunning vistas capture and bind me, hands, eyes, feet, and breath, close to the point of distraction. Above and around majestic tree-wrapped and bare rock faces, willowing grey veils stretch, covering the nakedness of nature’s power. Layers upon billowing, burdened windswept layers gracefully separate into thick sinewy threatening blobs awaiting the perfect moment to retaliate. Rain or snow? Will the blustering strength overpower resistance?
“Focus, pull over, stop! You need to take photos before the clouds change. You know how fast it happens.”
I am pretty good at talking to myself and answering. Now my eyes jot this way and that, trying to find a safe place to pull off the highway. Why do I want to grasp every moment of spectacular scenery when the camera does little justice compared to eye power? My hungering for sharing with another gets my soul grumbling for nourishing companionship, even if it is only in photographs.
May 12, 2021 => Another day dawns with anticipation for a geocaching walk along a trail in Banff National Park, this time with my son-in-law. With so many areas to explore, I chose a geocache location further down a riverside trail that I would not go by myself. Warnings and closed-off sections within the forested mountainsides teem with wolves, bears, cougars, and other wildlife, so I plan our safe route.
Setting our Garmin watches to track our movements, we begin down a well-groomed, wide pathway, unknowingly passing our turnoff taking us to the water’s edge. Feeling small amongst towering trees gracing the sides of Sulphur Mountain and the valley below, crossing Spray River and lining Mount Rundle, we gaze in amazement at the roots holding trees upright on precipices and edges. We stare at the glistening clarity of the water flowing downstream to merge with the Bow River. Hearing an unrecognizable clicking sound, I step off the path seconds before three horseback riders trot into view.
Excitement builds into an adventure in holding roots and moss while avoiding sliding down the weathered, damp embankment as we find a barely visible path meandering downwards. Eventually, locating the object of our interests, signing the log, and replacing the hidden object, we decide to follow the river. Listening to the splashing and gurgling of quick-moving currents bouncing over protruding rocks prompts stillness and quiet. Nestled in the valley below two humungous monuments, left by glacier retreat and erosion, speech evades our lips as we pause occasionally.
Out of necessity, rather than walk through cold waters, we find the upper trail watching for the opportunity to find a bridge crossing the steady river streaming onwards. Hearing the babbling below, we descend again to a forested space with two picnic tables, a makeshift hobbit-sized shelter of pine branches calling my name, and a wooden bridge begging us to stop and stay awhile. No arguments. Imagining a small log cabin, even an outhouse, in this tranquil environment, whispers peace. The majestic views around, above, and below (in the water) nourish me with unmistakable security and soul-filled simplicity. All my hungering for sustenance was provided in a feast of aromatic pine trees, accompanied by the music of simmering bubbles breaking over rocks, touching the gentle breeze and sun, tasting the goodness of nature, laying on the bridge, and closing my eyes to know. Without opening my mouth, satisfying fullness incites silent exclamation. Wow!!!
Life Happens . . . Learning by Parable
My massive room with porticos, the great outdoors, tamed and wild, under vaulted skies decorated with starry chandeliers by night and billowing wonders hiding the sun, or not, by day feeds my heart, mind, and soul. I cannot indulge in all at one sitting. My eyes are bigger than my belly. I feast and hunger no more, until the next time.
=>How do you learn poignant lessons in life’s happenings?
=> What do you like to feast upon?
=> Have you experienced a visual teaching or reprimanding moment?
I am blessed in multiple ways. It is so easy to complain when things do not go as expected. I do not ever recall asking why me. That is not in my nature. I adapt while experiencing the blessings of peace and comfort, no matter my circumstances. I am an optimistic, contemplative voyager living life’s happenings the only way I know how. I believe our divinely appointed feasts taste and look different. I ache for those who hunger in ways I have not experienced. Know that in my limited scope of awareness, I pray in faith.
I hope people in all corners of this massive room, my readers, friends, and family learn and live their life’s happenings to the best of their abilities and experience comforting peace to ease hunger pangs, especially during times when threatening clouds appear and linger.
Below is a short slideshow of a few of my recent posts.
