Notice Trees

I did notice that when I took the "freeways" home from work,
there were absolutely no trees...
asphalt and concrete as far as the eye could see!
So my 19th Street route, although longer, perhaps, 
is my much-needed tree-lined entry into and exit out of 
my daily world of work.
I noticed the varying shades of spring green
and the unique shapes of their sprouting and rooting. 
~~~ The past month has been WILD!!
I realize how hard it is to stay mindful when there
is so much on my mind.
Doing these practices seems harder than ever, 
because my mind is already consumed with content.
I don't even think of doing them.
I don't even think of wanting to do them.
Makes me appreciate and empathize with the many folks 
who would never even consider doing any of these practices.
Why, it's just not "natural".
And would I continue this journey or bail out,
if I were not the instigator...the facilitator?
Humility!

And yet, how often, 
in the midst of this WILD month,
have I found myself breathing at stoplights,
taking deep breaths when thoughts were starting to spin and twirl,
observing and experiencing what was really there
in the moment
(the sounds, the smells, the textures around me)
instead of letting my mind run 
WILD 
with thoughts of past and future.

On some level,
these practices are taking,
even if I'm skipping some classes,
not doing all of my homework,
and definitely not making straight A's!

There is a sustaining awareness that what may appear
WILD
in my life
is just 
LIFE
for the moment, in the meantime,
until I re-find (remember) that old place of
Peace
and
Focus
which never, ever really leaves me!

I like to think of that place as
MERCY!
~~~
Trees everywhere on my drive to and from Snyder...
beautiful variegated colors from deep green to lime green.
The most eye-catching were the trees that had obviously been
burned in some intentional or unintentional fire.
The green foliage was such a contrast to the black gnarled limbs
from which it sprouted, almost incongruent in its appearance.
HOW COULD SOMETHING THAT ALIVE
come out of something so dead?
MERCY!