Quiet

The house is quiet.  There is no music playing.  The television is dark.  The only sounds I can actually hear is the refrigerator and the snoring of a couple of dogs.  Occasionally Lil Dude will splash in his box beside me.  Other than the sounds I’ve mentioned there is nothing.

For the past few days, my reading material has been The Ascetical Homilies of Saint Isaac of Syria and these writings expound on the necessity of silence for the blossoming of the soul, heart, and mind.  He has also gone further to explain silence in work can also lead to better work.  I am sure he was talking about work necessary for keeping yourself fed, clothed, and a roof over your head, but Saint Isaac did say ALL work could benefit from silence.

As I opened the laptop today and began working after a nice lunch with Shane – the fellow who wrote “Pulling Rabbits” – I hadn’t chosen a music program or a disk to play.  Nor was the TV on for background noise.  Still, I began working:  Researching, writing, editing, typing…work.  Occasionally I have looked up and outside through the glass doors in front of me and since there hasn’t been a racket inside today birds are everywhere on the banister outside devouring the sunflower seeds.  The male squirrel has chased them off, but the little pregnant female squirrel is so gentle and moves so slowly, she has been able to eat with the birds.

One bird, I’m not sure what type of bird it is because a) I haven’t seen its type before; and b) I can’t find my bird book; came right up and clung to the divider of the glass door and peered in at me as curiously as I watched him.  He looked at me first with one eye and then the other before he went back to the sunflower seeds, then back out to the trees.

Not only has the wildlife been easier to observe today, but the words are flowing.  Scenes are happening.  Even when there are snags and stumbles with words, plot, scenes, etc., the work-through has appeared more readily (though not effortlessly).

Since I am more at ease the dogs are more at ease.  Willie Fu is peacefully asleep with the other two.  He comes close to check on me and receive petting, but he isn’t looking for something to do.  He is peaceful.  Even Lil Dude, after having a semi-traumatic morning – we put him in the big tank last night but got hung in the water filter this morning; this means he is back in his box beside me – has calmed, eaten, and has basked himself several times today.  There is a serenity about all the animals today, and with me.

Most of the time I seem to hunt for peace and never find it, or am never satisfied with what appears.  Maybe this is the more truthful statement.  Today has been different and the words are showing just how much a difference.  Will every day be like this?  *sigh*  No, unfortunately.  No two days are ever alike for me, or anyone truly.  Each day we’re different on the inside because of worries and concerns, or health issues.  Today though, is a quiet day filled with words and I am happy for them.