Yesterday could have been a disaster.

I had a couple of things on my mind, one very personal, one work related, that on a normal day would have consumed me. Because I am like that some times – things get to me and my mind works at a pace my heart can’t keep up with. I work myself into a place where I can’t think straight and I can’t feel properly. Everything is out of whack.

But yesterday was not a normal day. It was a reunion day.

I am blessed to be a part of a group with the unwieldy name of “The Creative Group at Bedlam Farm.”, a group pulled out of the ether by Jon Katz, a friend and author. Mostly it’s made up of his readers, and it’s made up of people who are, it turns out, writers and artists and poets and photographers and cross stichers and quilters and creatives of all sorts and stripes.

And in this creative group, Jon created a safe haven for people to share and grow and try things and share things. We’ve come to think of it as sort of a ministry of encouragement. And as a result of that encouragement, a blossoming of very fine work has emerged.

More than that, this group of people, from all over the country, have become friends. Improbably close friends, who have shared our lives with each other, and become close.

Jon does an open house at his farm a couple of times a year, and a lot of us decend on the farm. At first it was primarily to see Jon, and the animals and people he writes about. But with each passing year, as we get to know each other, it’s as much about seeing each other as seeing Joh. To nourish and bask in these friendships.

Yesterday was the first day of the gathering, of this reunion. My head was not in it.

But my heart was wiser. As soon as we began to gather and talk the spinning thoughts in my head went away. The worries went away. Perhaps only for a few hours, but still, my heart was so full of joy, that there was no room for worry, for concern. I was able to put my head away, and just feel.

That’s a gift. Life is so complicated sometimes. So many things going on. Work. Family, Financial. Ailing people in our lives we must care for. Kids. The list of responsibilities can crush us, or at least crush our ability to feel under the heel of what we have to do.

But, we’re not whole, I believe, unless at times we can tuck our head away, and simply wallow in the beauty around us, And for this weekend, for me, that beauty is a gathering of friends, heart filled conversations, and simply being.

My head? I’ll pick it up Monday.

Be well, travel wisely,

Tom

PS – the picture was taken at Jon’s Bedlam Farm. It may be my absolute favorite feature (next to Flo the cat) of the whole place.