I lied yesterday. It was beautiful, sunny, and crisp with a forecast of continued sun and cool temps. However, about 5 the clouds mounded on the horizon and the rain started falling in fits and starts. Then the wind blew in – and blew and blew and is still blowing. Come to find out that the Cycladic islands are the root for the word Cyclone as this is where the northern wind streams from Europe battle out with the southern rising from Africa. It is now 80 and humid so Africa is winning. TWC says tomorrow and the rest of the week will be lovely with the northerly breezes caressing us more gently. Who knows.
In the meantime, I have books to read, needlework to tend to, a bathroom floor to clean (what are the odds that gets done before I start the other two??) I am now in the student lounge at the school where I can check out all things internet. Thinking over this past week and looking for lessons.
The walk solidified one of the calls I have had to Greece. It is permanence. There is evidence of humanity here on this island since 4000 BC. The church I sketched on Tuesday is the oldest continuing church in Christendom, with services being held there since 400 AD. The landscape. The way of life. The relationship with Spirit. They are the same day to day, year to year, age to age. I am part of something bigger yet am infinitely smaller at the same time.
All I can experience is the present, especially when disconnected from the distraction of the internet. Life is a sweet interaction with a salesperson who gifts me with a blessing. Life is the crazy lady above me sweeping the rain off her balcony into my window, even as it is still raining. Life is the simplicity of buying my daily bread and not much more because the refrigerator is apartment sized. Life is the pure luxury of a hot shower 20 minutes after turning on the waterheater – and maybe having enough hot water left to do the dishes. Appreciating each moment as a joy.
As the wind swirled and howled last night I could picture myself in one of the shepherd huts up in the mountains. But for the life of me I could never determine whether the vision was in the present or 100 years ago or 1000 years ago. It would have been the same. Only big events sweep over the world and march into our lives – and then like the waves they draw back into the oceans of time and allow life to emerge once again, just as it has always been.
This is the gift of my time here. Just being here and nowhere else. Having to be right here, right now. Showing up and slowing down. Refinding priorities and appreciating both lives I am part of – the eternal sweep represented by life in Greece, and the contemporary brush of family, friends, and stuff. Blessings.
Lisa Oberreuter 