In that moment

I'm sitting outside right now. It's kind of chilly but

The sun is so brilliant this morning on our back patio.
And there are a gazillion birds fluttering about, likely searching for the food my dad might have put out by now.
The occasional car rolls by and takes a glance my way.
The breeze twisting those leaves around the patio.
I can hear the train across town, trucks flying down the highway.
There's even an owl (shouldn't he be asleep?) in the distance.

All of these different elements coexist.
And as I sit here, together they create my community.
As I sit here, privileged enough to sip my coffee in a warm hoodie and take a minute from my work of a good paying job that I don't even really like, I can breathe it all in at once.
It's quite soothing actually and while it might not seem like it would all go together-it fits.
Like a beautiful picture you see all of the layers at once.

But when I close my eyes. I can concentrate on just one piece at a time.
I can shut out each of the others.  It's easier to do than you think, shut out the noise...
Just that car and it's messed up muffler,
Just that train and it's loud horn.
Just that leaf as it twists across the cement.
Even the birds with their symphonic melody can be reduced to one chirp at a time.
Like a beautiful picture you are discovering each layer one at a time.

Which is better?  I don't know.
Maybe that's the wrong question.

Which is needed?
Might be more appropriate.

Because.

Some days.  I need to take it all in. The sun, the birds, the cars, the breeze, the train, the owl.  It is glorious.  I appreciate fullness and goodness and unity when I do.
Some days.  I need to focus. One thing at a time. Appreciate each minute detail. Relish in the small. It is amazing. I appreciate individuality and heartbeat and uniqueness when I do.

I don't think we can do both at the same time. I mean we can try. But we miss the full experience and impact of either when and if we do.  And we minimize the powerful truth of either scenario when we do.

I think often we must choose in that moment which we are going to appreciate and value and acknowledge.

The full tapestry of humanity.
Or the individual human.

And then be about love.

That's what I got today.