On the morning after the storm,
we sat out on the porch for a while,
grateful for the cool air,
the quiet breeze beneath blue skies and green trees
and knowing that the sunrise
would bring some sort of reassurance,
a blessing of light beyond the night
of wind and flood.

We talked in between bites
of honey-drizzled waffles
and sips of caramel coffee:
possible plans for a holiday weekend,
time that we might spend traveling together
and a tear-touching story she had seen on TV.

We need such times as this,
time to contemplate miracles and minutiae,
to breath calm moments,
to give thanks for our daily bread
and not being led into paths of darkness
masquerading as light,
to be grateful for the night’s rest
and passing blessings,
a caressing of time and such moments as this
when we are reminded that not all of life
is duty and monotony and pressing needs,

to remember the answering of unspoken prayers
and to be prepared for greater works
that we will do
and will be done in us.

H. Arnett
8/18/17