What do you hear when you sit outside?
Me?
The jingle of a collar.
The rolling water of a creek.
Whistles — back and forth.
Chirps — here and there.
Conversations in unknown languages. Not verbal, but the linguistics of the creatures that are not us.
I hear the crunch of dying grass under slow-moving footsteps.
The scratching of paws across the morning dew.
A dog’s bark in the far distance.
The clanking of metal on metal.
A low-frequency hum of kinetic energy circles from every direction.
The bushes and trees whisper.
Leaves drop silently, yet make the tiniest of sounds, like someone trying to tiptoe on creaky old floors.
Sniffles. Allergies reminding me I need a Claritin.
Jets fly low, heading for an airport not too far away.
Movements of a Shih Tzu as he nestles up beside me.
A duck or a blue heron or something of that nature? I don’t really know the creatures of nature. But I listen to the sounds made by them, by it, and by me, such as a ceramic cup, as it scrapes the stone wall that sits next to the blue, circling ripples of a saltwater pool.
I hear knuckles popping, or rather the arthritic crackles of aged, old wood from the long, knotty limbs that fight the bend of the wind.
Soft chimes, which, surprisingly, are more silent than I expected when I hung them. A gift from a friend, who now enjoys heaven. I guess the place I put them is only for her whispers on the days she feels like visiting.
Another jet. They come fast. And another, and another, definitely in a fly pattern for that private airport. Also, a well-traveled route by those higher in the sky on the way to the larger ones, carrying loved ones to those they love.
There is a low, monotonous hum of tires upon concrete.
A motorcycle growls and a woodpecker pecks.
It is a constant stream of ambient noise.
Life gently moves through the universe alive and well. Steady and strong. A beautiful concerto that I might have missed if I hadn’t decided to take my coffee outside, sitting and listening, pondering — the right kind of noise.
“But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you; or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish in the sea inform you. Which of all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this? In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind.
Job 12: 7-10 (NIV)
Ponder Inspiration: In a rare moment for me, on Thursday morning after a bike ride and some dog love, I made coffee and reached for the TV remote.
But I stopped.
There is nothing “good” on the tube at 7:45 AM. It’s all become noise, so I put it down, looked at my Shih Tzu, and asked, “You want to take our coffee outside?”
Sitting there, I realized a lot was going on in and around me, so I began, listening and writing down what I heard. It was a pondering exercise for me. As close to meditation as I might ever get, and it was comforting to hear life living. No disruptions. Nothing frightening, and in my little world, I gave thanks for having the ability to sit in it and absorb what God created.
Sometimes I feel I have to travel to faraway lands or weekend getaways, to rest and recoup - hide. But actually, the time it takes to drink a cup of coffee in the silence of my space, which is never really silent, happens to be an ideal relaxing place.
Have a beautiful week. Be kind. Look for those who are kind. Together, stay kind. It’s the weekend, take life outdoors. See you Monday.
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“Pondering is everything, and everything is worth pondering.” - Kim Knights
PS - the PT beside each title stands for Ponder This and is my cataloging system. The number beside the PT is the number of ponders written since my launch in October 2021.
In a world where notifications buzz every minute, and opinions fly faster than the speed of light, I like the thought: what if you didn’t? What if, instead we simply sat back and observed?
It’s a concept that goes against the grain of our hyperactive culture but your right. It holds a surprising amount of power. I wonder if observing, rather than reacting, can be our secret weapon for clarity, calm, and even more strategic decisions in our lives.
I really liked the post today Kim ..obviously it got me thinking.. Thanks!