I still live in exile in our apartment in the middle of Houston, Texas. Except for a few days camping at a State Park, I have spent four months inside this apartment. We make weekly trips to pick-up our groceries at curbside and monthly trips to do maintenance on our motorhome. The only outside contact I get to enjoy regularly is our small balcony with a scenic view of the swimming pool and building next door. Neither of these has changed much, and I am not a big fan of counting bricks. The only feature that changes are the clouds as they drift overhead. I have learned many secrets from those clouds as they have come and gone in the blue sky above.
Scientifically, clouds are nothing more than water droplets reflecting or shading the light from the Sun and Moon. They are subject to the currents and crosscurrents of the winds at the different layers of air above me. They continuously form and dissipate. They deepen and disappear regularly. They change shape depending on the humidity, temperature, and winds. Some clouds bring gentle rains while others bring great storms with lightning and thunder. Some bring no rain at all and bode well for a spell of good weather. As the Sun rises from or drops to the horizon, the clouds become a magnificent canvas. The dust changes the light and paints the clouds with orange, red, yellow, and all the hues in between. And occasionally, when the Sun is in just the right place, those same water droplets (both seen and unseen) create a single, double, or even triple rainbow. For being nothing more than water droplets, clouds are incredible sights to behold, especially for someone in exile on a balcony.
I have learned that there are secrets in those clouds. They can reveal mysteries that exist within and beyond the realm of science. They whisper insights and questions. Creative folks will see pictures of dogs and faces unfold in the clouds. The scientifically minded will see signs of atmospheric conditions. The pragmatist will see clues into whether they should take their umbrella with them for the day. What do I see? The clouds speak to me of wondrous secrets about life and the great mysteries that make our lives worth the trouble of getting out of bed.
What secrets have the clouds revealed from my little balcony to the heavens?
First, clouds taught me a very different kind of seeing. Clouds are not only slow-moving; they also evolve very slowly. My brain usually watches things happen quickly on the small and large screens. I render a web page "Not worth the Trouble" when it takes more than a few seconds to load. Clouds, however, require a patient, steady focus to see movement and change. We can take pictures, but they will only tell you what happened. To observe the present moment, we need a steady, patient seeing. But even a sustained focus needs something more. We also need to let go of the bigger picture. Our eye needs to focus on the edges, the wispy currents to see where the change is occurring. These details slip past us when we get lost in the big picture. Seeing clouds demands a purposeful and intentional shifting of our focus and perspective. Above all, it requires patience.
Secondly, for clouds, change is inevitable. We can resist change. We can use all our skills and energy trying to prevent change. But clouds are very different. The conditions that drive the clouds across the sky are not in the clouds. The winds and humidity that surround them create the changing clouds. They are subject to the color and quantity of the light that passes through and reflects from them. They change because these forces and realities are beyond their control. We have some limited means of influencing the future of our lives, but change will happen. And most of the change will evolve out of factors beyond our control. Clouds help me to understand that it is best to keep my expectations in check. While I may be able to change some small things, I had better learn to adapt and cope when the inevitability of change sweeps through my life. Change will surely come, for good or ill.
Third, clouds remind me to celebrate the moment. The most beautiful clouds happen at sunrise and sunset. Unfortunately, these glorious murals of reds, oranges, and yellows will not last very long. They will fade into browns, pale blues, and grays in minutes. In trying to capture these panoramas with my camera, I have learned to shoot what is before me and enjoy it. If I try and wait for a better picture, I will likely lose my shot. Clouds teach me not to waste my time thinking about what will happen. Every moment with the clouds is a gift. I waste that gift when I am distracted about what might happen. I toss that gift aside when I ignore the moment that the heavens offered in this slow-moving, ever-evolving canvas before me. This wastefulness is true even when the storm clouds gather overhead. I should not despair because the storms will pass as they always have. I stay safe but celebrate them, as well. For they, too, are fleeting.
These secrets from the clouds have taught me to look up when I feel trapped in a world of pain and uncertainty. Look up with my mind and soul. Be patient. Life will unfold before me. Look for the little changes that are occurring at the edges of the larger picture. In them, I will find guidance and hope. I do what you can, but I do not let my expectations exceed my reach. If there are storms on the horizon, I take cover and wait them out. They will pass, in time.
Most of all, I patiently enjoy the unfolding and allow myself the opportunity to see life for what it is. Our lives, like clouds, are slow-moving and, for the most part, beyond our reach. Stay tuned to the unfolding of the universe above you, around you, and within you. There are wonders to behold for those with the eyes to see.
Blessings, my friends!
Bob
Scientifically, clouds are nothing more than water droplets reflecting or shading the light from the Sun and Moon. They are subject to the currents and crosscurrents of the winds at the different layers of air above me. They continuously form and dissipate. They deepen and disappear regularly. They change shape depending on the humidity, temperature, and winds. Some clouds bring gentle rains while others bring great storms with lightning and thunder. Some bring no rain at all and bode well for a spell of good weather. As the Sun rises from or drops to the horizon, the clouds become a magnificent canvas. The dust changes the light and paints the clouds with orange, red, yellow, and all the hues in between. And occasionally, when the Sun is in just the right place, those same water droplets (both seen and unseen) create a single, double, or even triple rainbow. For being nothing more than water droplets, clouds are incredible sights to behold, especially for someone in exile on a balcony.
I have learned that there are secrets in those clouds. They can reveal mysteries that exist within and beyond the realm of science. They whisper insights and questions. Creative folks will see pictures of dogs and faces unfold in the clouds. The scientifically minded will see signs of atmospheric conditions. The pragmatist will see clues into whether they should take their umbrella with them for the day. What do I see? The clouds speak to me of wondrous secrets about life and the great mysteries that make our lives worth the trouble of getting out of bed.
What secrets have the clouds revealed from my little balcony to the heavens?
First, clouds taught me a very different kind of seeing. Clouds are not only slow-moving; they also evolve very slowly. My brain usually watches things happen quickly on the small and large screens. I render a web page "Not worth the Trouble" when it takes more than a few seconds to load. Clouds, however, require a patient, steady focus to see movement and change. We can take pictures, but they will only tell you what happened. To observe the present moment, we need a steady, patient seeing. But even a sustained focus needs something more. We also need to let go of the bigger picture. Our eye needs to focus on the edges, the wispy currents to see where the change is occurring. These details slip past us when we get lost in the big picture. Seeing clouds demands a purposeful and intentional shifting of our focus and perspective. Above all, it requires patience.
Secondly, for clouds, change is inevitable. We can resist change. We can use all our skills and energy trying to prevent change. But clouds are very different. The conditions that drive the clouds across the sky are not in the clouds. The winds and humidity that surround them create the changing clouds. They are subject to the color and quantity of the light that passes through and reflects from them. They change because these forces and realities are beyond their control. We have some limited means of influencing the future of our lives, but change will happen. And most of the change will evolve out of factors beyond our control. Clouds help me to understand that it is best to keep my expectations in check. While I may be able to change some small things, I had better learn to adapt and cope when the inevitability of change sweeps through my life. Change will surely come, for good or ill.
Third, clouds remind me to celebrate the moment. The most beautiful clouds happen at sunrise and sunset. Unfortunately, these glorious murals of reds, oranges, and yellows will not last very long. They will fade into browns, pale blues, and grays in minutes. In trying to capture these panoramas with my camera, I have learned to shoot what is before me and enjoy it. If I try and wait for a better picture, I will likely lose my shot. Clouds teach me not to waste my time thinking about what will happen. Every moment with the clouds is a gift. I waste that gift when I am distracted about what might happen. I toss that gift aside when I ignore the moment that the heavens offered in this slow-moving, ever-evolving canvas before me. This wastefulness is true even when the storm clouds gather overhead. I should not despair because the storms will pass as they always have. I stay safe but celebrate them, as well. For they, too, are fleeting.
These secrets from the clouds have taught me to look up when I feel trapped in a world of pain and uncertainty. Look up with my mind and soul. Be patient. Life will unfold before me. Look for the little changes that are occurring at the edges of the larger picture. In them, I will find guidance and hope. I do what you can, but I do not let my expectations exceed my reach. If there are storms on the horizon, I take cover and wait them out. They will pass, in time.
Most of all, I patiently enjoy the unfolding and allow myself the opportunity to see life for what it is. Our lives, like clouds, are slow-moving and, for the most part, beyond our reach. Stay tuned to the unfolding of the universe above you, around you, and within you. There are wonders to behold for those with the eyes to see.
Blessings, my friends!
Bob
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