haiti

Things that went right today:

1) zip line over the ocean...conquered my fear of heights and enjoyed "flying"
2) parasailing...gorgeous view of the jungle and mountains
3) nap in a hammock by the beach
4) saw jellyfish swimming by our boat
5) swam in warm clear Carribean waters
6) haggled with the locals over some trinkets
6) spent time with my 15 yo. daughter.

What a contradiction Haiti is. You hear the tales of the poverty and crime, but it is one of the most serene settings I have experienced. We were in Port Labadee which admittedly is separated from the trouble areas and kind of an "imaginary" world, but when parasailing we had an ariel view of the island and it was breathtaking. Majestic mountains, lush greenery. "Flying" up there is was so quiet and peaceful that my heart was filled with awe at the beauty God has given us. How often we miss it. I remember one day in college at BYU for instance I was particularly stressed with schoolwork and was walking to class all hunched over hurrying to get from place A to place B. I was feeling rather "rushed" and miserable. Suddenly a whispering of the spirit came to me that said "Look up". And so I raised my head and saw an incredible sight. The rocky mountains that surround the campus there are magnificent. I completely rocked back on my heels that day when I saw the sun rising over the mountain tops and the perfect cumulus clouds. It was like a painting. Hardly seemed it could be real it was so beautiful. Birds were flying overhead and now I noticed they were singing. It was a perfectly peaceful moment in the midst of a busy day. Taking that moment to regroup changed the tone of the rest of the day for me, and I have reflected back on it many times since. God has given us so much beauty to enhance and bless our lives. It surrounds us all the time and yet too often we are like horses with blinders on and race past it without fully seeing. Take the time to stop and listen to the sounds of nature. The bubbling of a brook or a cricket's song. Stop for a moment and allow yourself to feel the warmth of the sun on your face or catch a snowflake on your tongue. Slow down and feel the velvet of a rose petal. Breathe in and smell the lilacs or the ocean breeze. Savor the taste of raspberries freshly picked. Look up and see the stars or a weeping willow blowing softly in the breeze. These are God's gifts and they fill the soul with joy. It only takes a second to open your heart to the world around you and allow it to lift you up.