Does Life just happen

By Lydia Chorpening



Life! Does life just happen or do we choose it?

Do you ever feel you are pushed into the farmer’s pig chute and prodded to head in a direction you didn’t intend to go in?

Or maybe you feel you are on a long, crowded escalator and can’t find a way to turn around and get off. Sometimes it seems to me that I’m crammed into a tiny spot in the evening traffic on 694 in the Twin Cities. Everyone wants my spot, and I don’t want to be in the lane I’m in. Maybe if I could get over I might eventually find a way off this rat race.

Do you know what I mean? Laundry, and vacuuming, time clocks to punch -

the decisions to make what’s for dinner or lunch.

There are spills on the counter and beds unmade and babies that tumble and stream till the house shakes.

Then there is house cleaning to do, and yards to rake, bills to pay and decisions to make.

Your best friend’s in the hospital needing a visit or perhaps it’s the neighbor who needs help because he’s just not quite with it.

Christmas is just around the corner and there are grandkids coming. You know you gotta get busy – no more bumming.

But listen, life really a beautiful thing. The other morning I peeped out my kitchen window and saw a brilliant pink glow spread above the housetop of my neighbor. I grabbed my journal and pen and headed for the lake shore. As I moved beyond the houses I saw a sight that made me gasp for my breath!

Oh, where was my camera? I knew there was not time to run back for it, but that I had to scribble quickly to capture a few of the vast impressions. The beach was empty except for a few ducks that flew off into the distance as invaded their privacy.

Life was giving me a beautiful gift as I listened to the heaven declares the glory of God.

• Waves relentlessly speaking volumes

• As day breaks through the darkness

• I feel the wonder of the strong breeze that pushes the waters upon the lakeshore.

• The bluest azure peeks though a deep hole in the amazing canvass of wispy, pink-tipped clouds as feathers on the wings of wind.

• The sky is full of downy softness, changing colors waltzing in the firmament.

• These rippled, brilliant-edged clouds with flumes of gray spoke of a rainy day.

• Before I can capture the moment the pinkness was chased away

• And a sun-spot appeared where the sun was just calling out a smiling, “Good morning!”

• How fast the day dawned as gulls soared silently overhead and the silhouettes of a charcoal shoreline still remains unawakened.

• And now today’s sun has arisen flanked by its pillowy colors of pink velvet and lavender.

• There she sits on the horizon - a blazing ball of magnificence declaring the glory of God!

A few weeks ago autumn was calling me to stop and smell - the falling leaves, in this case. I entered the silence of the cemetery where I sat up against a tree, trying to take in the beauty. My world was surreal as I journaled…



I’m kissed by sun-pecks on my cheeks

By branches which are golden clad

The whisp’ring breeze of autumn days

Warm my heart and make me glad



The sun shine leaves float softly down

And mix with crimson on the ground

Earth’s floor is covered in crunchy mounds

Arranged by nature in tones of brown



How short this day of blissful warmth

For soon the trees now decked with light

Shall stretch out arms all bare and grey

Await the cold of winter’s white



I must capture this sun-filled day

With vivid colors of autumn’s best

Green turned gold and orange and red

Will fill my dreams in winter’s bed



Yes, life, even with it’s unexpected bumps, bungles and bruises is still beautiful!

I am so blessed that my parents chose not to abort me or I would never have witnesses such fathomless beauty!