Awoke to a pink dawn painted across the sky. Showered early as the farmhouse inn where I am staying is full. Three rooms share the bath so I decided to beat the morning rush. I have been rewarded with hot coffee, a cosy window seat and the birds’ chorus as I wrapped the cool mist of morning about me. No one about, the young woman who made the coffee, off for a walk with the farmhouse dog, leaving me to this stillness. Peace.

Creek that waters the gardens.

My youngest son lives and loves in this small town nestled in the mountains of Colorado. My friend and I have been staying in this farmhouse inn where his love works. A big garden provides much of the food for breakfast and dinners, the rest being locally sourced. His love runs the CSA program, picking up produce from local farms, packaging it into 65 boxes which she then delivers to families in the area. She creates a newsletter with recipes highlighting the week’s produce. A wonderful system that connects folks to the fruit of the land in their area. So many earnest, inspired and inspiring young folks abound! There are many here focused on new ways of working, playing, being. Creativity abounds. One friend is setting up an old time, speakeasy salon with secret passwords and live jazz. My son has organized open mike poetry and comedy nights, they put on plays, organize board game evenings, barter services…drawing lessons in exchange for piano lessons, banana bread for mechanic assistance, gardening for dinners out. There is a sense of community that enlivens the air.

I feel nostalgic for my grandmother’s house which had much of this feel though it was even more beautiful. This house was ordered in 1906 from the Sears Roebuck catalog! Can you imagine? I remember paging through the Sears catalog as a kid for our Christmas wishes as most of our clothes and presents came from it. But a house! What a different world. The Internet has brought the world to our fingertips, we can order things from anywhere in the world with a tap of our fingers. We can connect with folks halfway around the world as if they were sitting right next to you. With all that expansion, we are coming back around to a smaller environment to fill our need for daily physical communion with others. The love pods are forming. I am delighting in this glimpse into what that may feel like. My son and his friends express their love for one another, openly and physically, with hugs and words. They support one another to be who they truly are, delighting in each one’s gifts.

A willow sculpture by one of my son’s friends.

We live in a world emerging into oneness. It happens as each of us recognize our own beauty and express gratitude for the beauty shining through each heart we meet. The young woman who made the morning coffee is back from her walk with the dog to begin making breakfast for us all. She exclaimed over the beauty of the sunrise and her gratitude that she was present for it and the sunset each day. Last night, there was a rainbow lighting up the storm drenched sky. Her grateful heart fuels more beauty, her sharing, opened my heart more fully to the wonder in the quiet of the morning. My heart is so alive these days, pulsing on the verge of tears with the beauty that abounds. How I love this planet of ours!