I took a few moments to sit quietly in my meditation garden, late in the afternoon. The sun was making its final appearance for this day. As its light filtered through the trees, it reminded me of child, peering around the corner at Christmas time, with a look of delight and anticipation. As if to say “I am so excited to see the brilliant surprise which awaits me.”

So. There was the sun. Looking at me. And what surprise had I been on this day? What magic did I make? Where was my brilliance? How did I make this place better in the last 12 waking hours?

Maybe, just maybe, that is how we should greet each day. When our feet hit the floor, perhaps it would be pretty grand if we asked this question: “What picture can I paint today?  What goodwill do I have in the works….  with every little thing I do? What bit of splendor can I create today? What beautiful thing can I put in the world?”

And, then as we step through the day, we keep laying those beautiful colors on the canvas. One stroke at a time. Perhaps we can be compassionate. In just one situation. Or. Maybe we smile more, or listen better. It could be…. we slow down, and let the other guy be a jerk while he’s driving… but not us. Or we let someone else have their way about something. Who knows? But what if we try to make peace? What if we try to make good.

And when the sun sets, it can look down on us. And there we are. A magnificent surprise. Yet one more day. One more day at a time.  A beautiful work of art.

Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time.
— Thomas A. Edison

Your destiny is to fulfill those things upon which you focus most intently. So choose to keep your focus on that which is truly magnificent, beautiful, uplifting and joyful. Your life is always moving toward something.
— Ralph Marston

Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Willing is not enough; we must do.
— Johann Wolfgang von Goethe