It sat there on the dining room floor, floating when we walked by and begging to be swept up. For some reason, I ignored the soft gray feather that had blown in from outside for two days.
That turned out to be a good thing. Have you ever gotten out of the normal routine and seen things from a different perspective?
On the morning of the day I had planned to clean, my one-year-old grandson and his mommy stopped by. Reuel was a bit grumpy and out of sorts – until his grandfather picked up the feather and blew it toward the ceiling.
The feather floated down. Reu stood wide-eyed, watching it spiral. “O-o-oh!” he exclaimed, reminding me of ET saying “Phone home!” The action was repeated numerous times, each time eliciting the same amazed response.
Then Reu picked up the feather himself and tried to blow on it. It was more like a snuffle and didn’t work too well, so he tried his favorite move — throwing it. Not so much. His attempts to get this fascinating new toy to float and swirl was all quite hilarious to the adults.
To think I would have swept away all that fun!
Experts are discovering we actually need a sense of play and wonder to be healthy. The old British adage, “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy” is true. Jack is not only dull, but emotionally unhealthy.
As kids, we didn’t have to try hard to know how to play. It came naturally. Slowly over time, it seems like what once came to us as easily as breathing gets buried under responsibility, duty, performance anxiety and stress.
But those ordinary moments that turn into magic are always at hand. We just have to notice them and choose to enjoy them.
Jesus said we have to be like little children to enter his kingdom. He said only those with eyes to see will see. Maybe enjoying a soft feather blown high and floating down is of more value than a rigid cleaning routine.
Does the world of adult busyness keep you from enjoying the simple pleasures of life? Have you asked God lately for eyes to see the wonder in front of you?
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