just everyone else, i sometimes carry dark and heavy burdens in my heart.

the details don’t matter.

it is the nature of our mortal existence.

but there is also light.

i make a conscious effort to look for and toward the light.

for some reason this morning i found myself wandering into the aerobics room of my local gym to do my planks and heel extensions. after i was done i stretched my arms and legs across the cool hard wood floor. i felt the wafts of air from the ceiling fans circulating over my body.

i raised my gaze and saw the play of the light angled across the expanse of bare floor.

i looked out through the stretch of large windows and noted the layered panorama of sepia-toned silhouettes:

trees in slight relief against

solid mountain

clear sky

i felt the substance of the cold mountain.

and loved the bareness of the trees dotted by their few remaining leaves.

i felt the light of the sky and the light across the floor ease away the dark and heavy from my heart.

making room for light and hope.

i wanted to capture it and carry it with me.

and so i write.