Do you ever happen upon an emotion or a connection, somewhere you didn’t imagine that you ever would?  There are connections all around us, I think.  Unknown connections too.

You see.  We have bird feeders.  In fact, we fill them with seed, to feed said birds.  But we get bonus guests as a result.  Sometimes they are mystery guests… like on a game show.  But on other occasions, we have the opportunity to see our random callers.

Some times, they take the form of a squirrel, raccoon (mystery-guest with a  mask), or even a possum.  But many times, right up here near the house… they are the “cuter-than-ever” chipmunks.  Oh my goodness.  They are so adorable.  But, right now, they are pretty skinny.  I guess the winter sleep was long and hard.

However…. back in the fall… they looked like Dom Deluise, or John Candy… or something.  A little on the plumpish side.

Anyway, today I looked out and there was a little chippy.  A word about our feeders.  The poles are seated in rock, and at the base of each pole is an area of small river rock.

So.  Chippy.  The little guy was out there foraging for food.  And that tiny fella’ would pick up one of those little river rocks and heave it out of his way.  Then he’d pick up another and toss it over his shoulder.  It was like watching Fred Flintstone move boulders.  I laughed out loud.

And there you have it.  That, is just one very small example of the blessings that nature brings us.  Those amazing connections.  Being in nature is nice.  This, coming from a “comfort-seeking-home-body”….

But it is true.  Being out in nature feels good sometimes.  I think the reason is that it is so very full of these blessings of nature itself.  It reminds us that we are just a very small part of the bigger equation.  We are useful and viable pieces of the universe.  But we share it with a lot of others.  Others which are… sometimes “like” us… and sometimes very “different.”

Which brings me to our lovely and beautiful dogs.  When you look in the eyes of any living being, there is a sign of something much, much deeper there.  Unless… of course… it is the likes of a Stepford Wife.

Again, digression.

My point is this.  When I look into the eyes of our dogs, there seems to be some kind of understanding and connection.  It is one that only exists between them and you.  They know it.  You know it.  Another gift of our natural world.  This reminder that we are all connected.  On so many levels.

It is like 3-dimensional-connect-the-dots, on speed.

Again, I shall propose.  There are so many connections in this world, and beyond, which our very limited brains do not understand.  We get ourselves all clogged-up and bogged-down, with details, and noise, and digital clutter.  But what we might just need to do is breath in…. exhale… look around and take notice of WHAT we are a part of.

What I know tonight that I am thankful to be a part of this world, this universe.  To be a small piece of this very large clock-works.  And I am especially glad to be sharing it with nature, and all of those kingdom’s creatures.  Like chipmunks.

I am especially glad… to be sharing it with you.

When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the universe.  — John Muir

Every living being is an engine geared to the wheelwork of the universe. Though seemingly affected only by its immediate surrounding, the sphere of external influence extends to infinite distance.  —  Nikola Tesla