Here in Iowa City, the flood waters have receded, leaving mud & mountains of debris in many homes and businesses. I'm fortunate to live on a forested hillside, one mile from the Iowa River, safe from flooding. Several of my friends, however, have lost their homes completely; others have lost income and livelihood. My favorite restaurant, Exotic India, was flooded; no word on whether it will survive to be rebuilt. Beautiful City Park is now a wasteland.
Life here, so idyllic in the summer, has changed, taken on a darker cast. We are living in a shadow time, that time of crisis that is the intersection of growth and opportunity. For myself, I am choosing to observe, to notice what's going on with me, to listen to my body, to keep breathing. Also I am choosing to serve, to be present with my friends and with my clients, bringing as much compassion as I can.
We all get to choose our path at any one time. Times like these just seem more pronounced, more crucial than others.
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