The “To Do”

Morning sun peers through the thin eastern haze as the stillness of the forest awaits the arrival of another late summer day. Puppies fed and their mother relieved of her morning duties, this possessor of Parkinson’s disease ponders what is ahead for this day. Grateful for physical movement and another breath we sit in awe of the silence in the old farm house. Away from the impassioned postings that pop forth on social media and the angst that some of that energy isn’t being used to “love one another,” we contemplate what that command will mean for me as this day unfolds. We reflect on today’s “to do’s” and wonder in what ways they may be expressions of “to love.” A doctor’s visit, a laundry drop at the cleaner’s, a grocery stop, a load of darks and a load of whites through the washer and the cleaning of the puppy pen are but a few of the “opportunities” listed for today. Interestingly, none of these are what I “love” to do. Realizing “love” is a verb helps reframe today’s list. The prayer now for this day is that the “to do” be executed in a way that demonstrates acts of love. If I do not succeed, at least perhaps my mental state along the way may be focused on a more positive outcome.