'CARPE DIEM' WALK

Strolling through Evington Park at 8 am, I was aware of the sheer beauty of the place at that time of morning and this May time of year - seemingly empty of all but me and the dawn chorus, plus the familiar wood pigeon descant.   The flowerbeds were heaving with colour and promise of what was to come.   Heady with the smell of newly mown grass and the tangible peace and tranquillity, with not even the odd dog owner for company, I almost broke into a jog at one point!   The ominously grey sky was now surprisingly blue and the tension of my past week seemed to ebb away as I picked up speed, swung my arms into action, and got the geriatric legs working again.   For a while I was a physically recycled teenager but with the wisdom of an oldie, who appreciates all the glory of still being alive on a spring morning in the park.

Reaching the car park, I felt thoroughly revived.   The long overdue feng shui of the garage and conservatory could begin today.   I was up for it ... the world was good and I was glad to be part of it.

However, a low flying pigeon didn't seem to care for my optimism and unexpectedly deposited an unwanted present from on high.   I could feel the watery gift on the back of my neck as I stepped out into the village.   Suddenly the sheer joy of the morning evaporated into still air.   There was still no one around, but the excrement on the back of my neck had soured the day.   My pace slowed, my arms leadened and the stress of the past week was back in a big way!   The sky was grey now with not even a blue patch on the horizon.   I trudged home, oblivious to the glorious colour of the pansies by the village green and the delight of some lovingly tended gardens en route.   The dawn chorus still accompanied me but it seemed more like a strident squawk than a splendid symphony.   A black crow sitting on a fence seemed to mock my hopscotch attempts to avoid the pavement mess left by unthoughtful dog owners.   Rain was in the air and the pigeon's 'present' on the back of my neck felt more like a solid weight than a liquid offering.

Home again, muttering under my breath at the unfairness of life and feeling thoroughly sorry for myself, I showered and soon I was cleaned up again.

Later in the day, whilst sitting in the garden, I noticed a blue tit on the fence and the burgeoning delights of my own garden.   Winter pansies optimistically reborn again and lifting their heads to the morning air.   I felt better for the walk in spite of the unwelcome donation from the bird.   It was easy to clean it way.   But sometimes life's excrement sticks to us and it isn't so easy to deal with the stain and the pain.   Then the day really is an uphill struggle for us to see any joy in life or feel the love from others.   But we don't have to let it spoil the sunshine; we can clean ourselves up, dust ourselves down and feel OK with the world again.

The moral of my early morning village tale?   Perhaps not 'Carpe Diem' or 'Seize the Day', but in a real world perhaps we should just seize the moment or the hour and enjoy it for what it is.   We just don't know what lies in waiting for us round the corner!

Sue Berkeley (Contributed by Helen)

from: http://leicesterunitarians.org/