March 12, 2024 – A

Every living thing,
every sentient being
(And sentience may be a quality
of rocks and soil and grains of sand,
light rays and lightening bolts,
who is to say?),
experiences, or engages in,
slack times as this Mallard duck is doing
afloat on the still waters
of the Bog Garden pond on a cloudy day.

Slack times are important times,
crucial times,
and we must see to it 
that we participate in them
more often than we do.

I have been looking out the window
all my life.

Some people call it "woolgathering,"
others say they are "musing,"
or "talking a walk-a-bout,"
or "reflecting,"
or "seeking clarity"...

Whatever we call it,
it comes down to entering a trance state
in which our Right Brain is communing
with our Left Brain,
resetting our internal clock,
or reorienting our internal direction, 
or getting us back on the path...

So that whatever is in charge
of guiding our boat 
on its path through the sea
is able to clear its desk
and put us on course again.

Slack time is the pause that,
not only "refreshes,"
but also recharges and redirects
us on our way.

So don't be ashamed of "checking out"!
Do it deliberately.
Call it taking a coffee break,
and do it looking out the window.

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