This season, two holy calenders collide.  I share my life with three elders, (one human and two canine,) two beings of middle age ( one human one feline) and two adolescents, ( One human, one canine).  We bear our crosses and Angels of Death visit us and on some days, pass over a bit closer than we are usually aware of.  Eventually, all our bodies will all go with that angel.

So is today really so different from other days? Other species seem to know this, so of calenders they have no need.  They seem to understand the nature of the now, but do they really?  Perhaps they simply need no such understanding.  For them the present moment and freedom collide transparently.  Struggle is clear and suffering is never hidden – we simply fail to observe it.  Happiness is likewise not hidden and joy is exuberantly expressed. We need reminders, we need calenders.  We need to observe.

Today was a day in the middle.  A day of rest, a day of pondering.  A day to observe.

For if we can observe the suffering, we can help alleviate it.  For much of the struggle and suffering is from our own minds and hands.   We tend to avoid learning what hurts them – (whichever ‘them’ you choose,) we fail to see what causes them to suffer.  Perhaps because we are scared of it, maybe because it hurts us too much.  We are compassionate by nature.

We hide our struggle and our suffering from each other, and often from ourselves.  Sometimes we wallow in it – holding on to it to keep us from risking love and divine possibilities.  Today, this season, this moment on the calender of our lives,  let us consider taking our teachings from our fellow furred companions. Today risk observing. Risk for freedom.  Release the suffering, share the care and see beyond it.  Feel the love.