In the blink of an eye – a phrase referring to a quick and often significant change and/or one with larger-than-usual consequences. Within the past few weeks I’ve experienced this three times, each one causing me to pause and reassess. First was a family member who suffered a fall while working outside. He had family close by to attend to him, and miraculously he wasn’t seriously hurt, although he easily could have broken his back, neck, or cracked his skull.

The second was a car accident we witnessed while driving home. A large SUV drove off the side of the road, broke through a guardrail, and fell halfway down a steep embankment, nose towards the creek at the bottom. We immediately stopped and called 911 requesting help. The driver climbed out of the car and up the embankment, but his passenger was badly hurt and was quite hysterical. She was eventually removed from the car and carried up into an ambulance with a compound fracture to her leg, a possible hip dislocation, and maybe a broken pelvis. My appreciation has been renewed for EMT’s, firefighters, first responders, state patrol, sheriffs, and all those well-trained people who we rely on for their quickness, their expertise, and their compassion.

And thirdly I learned of the death of a friend, an inquisitive man whose career had been as a newspaper reporter. Doug Grow appreciated good writing and was always interested in each and every person’s story. Conversations with him were varied, long, and always enjoyable. He and his wife Sheila introduced us to the best fish-fry restaurants and bars in northwest Wisconsin where we shared stories, engaging conversations, and laughs over food and drink. He lived a life that was committed to his community, to his wife, and to his family.

The morning after reading of Doug’s death, I woke up before the sunrise after not sleeping well. Standing in front of the window, I stopped to observe the present moment – to pause and appreciate the stillness and quiet of the early morning. Only after this pause did I sit down with my cup of coffee, pen, and paper to try and sort out my thoughts. Eventually the sun cleared the horizon and burned off the steam that was rising from the lake. The air was beginning to warm and the still lake was calling me. I walked out in my pajamas and felt the cool, wet dew wrap around my bare feet and toes. Reaching the end of the dock, I sat down on the bench and felt the sun on my face. I listened to the birds, watched the loons, and smelled the freshness of the early morning. I was filled with a renewed awareness and appreciation of the significance of each moment, and the beauty and wonder of being in the world each day and each minute.