INFINITE ABILITIES

     I recall a friend once telling me that the weather has what he called “infinite abilities” to surprise us. He said there’s no limit to what the weather can do, because it doesn’t grow weak and weary like we do. This morning I was thinking about what he said, and it started me wondering if we, too, might actually have some infinite abilities – the ability, for instance, to bring a little brightness to others, or the ability to be brave when life breaks down, or the ability to believe in kindness when cruelty seems in control the world over. I, for one, am weary of the limiting outlook on life – the view that we can have only so much satisfaction or whole-heartedness or amazement in our lives, that these qualities come only in small servings and will sooner or later lessen and shrink away. I’ve known people who paid tribute to the good gift of life even when suffering severely, even when hope held out no hand. Was their cheerfulness and inner liveliness limited? Did they see their supply of helpfulness and benevolence as being insufficient, restricted, scanty? To them – and to me – a quality like the ability to be taken aback by the beauties of this universe is without limits. When the door of death swings open for me, I hope I’m able, even then, to be astonished by the mysteries of all things. I hope I can still shout, at least in spirit, some words of praise for the gifts I’m given each moment.