Early Sunday morning, on my way to church, the sky’s overcast but sun rays are peeking through, all set to teach the lesson on what constitutes a “hero” and while the best-known characteristic may be courage (which is not the absence of fear but acting bravely in spite of it), not to mention self-sacrifice, then perhaps the least recognized is humility, throwing off the mantle of leadership to be a servant, it’s all a matter of the spirit, service… and as I drive past barns, fields, pastures, the green, green grass hints of imminent spring, making my heart rejoice, as do the horses tossing their manes when I pass, surely shaking off sleep and the night, greeting the day as if to say Good morning, good morning, not to mention that I have just enough time to make choir practice before I teach, for we are finally singing as a choir again after two long years, and look at all these robins flocking by the roadside, taking flight as I round the bend, maybe straightening a curve or two, until I remember something my childhood preacher said: Don’t have a Jesus bumper sticker on your car if you drive like the devil… good thing I have no such sticker, but I’ll slow down a bit just the same…in my bag is a list of prayer requests and petitions to make, knowing the Lord already knows, for He knows all, sees all, is over all, and while there is so much I cannot understand, I am learning, I am always learning, and although words are forever scrolling through my brain, today, my heart needs no words; it just sings, like the birds.
A photo from last summer. In recent weeks a little Carolina wren has been perching on the tip of the cross of one of our two “bird churches,” singing its heart out to the sky. I haven’t been successful in recording this glorious solo… yet.
*******
with thanks to Two Writing Teachers for the Slice of Life Story Challenge every day in the month of March.
lit bits and pieces 
You must be living in a small town 😊 , a beautiful little bird.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes – I live in a rural area although some farmland and forest has been sold and is being developed all around us. I am mourning that, to be honest.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I really loved these last line:
“… although words are forever scrolling through my brain, today, my heart needs no words; it just sings, like the birds.”
Kevin
LikeLiked by 1 person
Fran, this burst of excitement in your voice as you write today is like the burst of spring greening our world with welcoming buds. The intentional breathlessness is so effective here as new life charges and energizes us – and our gas pedal feet especially feel energized in springtime because we are so ready to take it all in. I think of Bambi – everyone is twitterpated. The heart sings in spring – I love the concept of singing throughout your piece – we sing heroes (or they remain unsung), the choir sings, birds sing, the heart sings. We all sing green in spring, the greenest green we’ve ever seen according to one backseat prophet I’ve been following lately. I love your blog today – it is just what I needed to start this Monday morning!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, dear Bambi! Twitterpated! Trust you to nail an analogy like no one else, Kim. Even your comments flow like poetry. Lyrical. I really have to write a set of stories or poems sparked by my Backseat Prophet. ❤
LikeLike
Fran is a bright stat on the horizon of making words square with truth and beauty. Felix Haynes
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for your gracious words, Dr. Haynes.
LikeLike
Mmmm, delightfully fresh, we are right there with you on your drive, with all those thoughts running through your mind and just feeling the sense of optimism and renewal in all things and the importance of what you are going to teach resonates, especially the strength of humility and servant leadership!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for seizing on that “servant leadership” focus and the sense of renewal – it was very real, very energizing, and heaven knows, we need more of that.
LikeLike
I enjoyed reading your stream of consciousness. It left me ready to sing the heralds of spring also.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Aw – many thanks, Teri. Here’s to much-needed spring and songs of the heart!
LikeLike
The photo you captured of the little Carolina wren is adorable. It is the cherry on top of your slice.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The Carolina wren is a little bird with a giant voice – one of these days, I am going to get that video of it singing while it’s perched on top of the cross. The sight and sound floods my soul with joy.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It sounds delightful, Fran.
LikeLike
This is such a poetic slice, filled with beautiful lyricism. I love the movement here, the glimpses of scenery, letting me be on this contemplative drive with you –
“I drive past barns, fields, pastures, the green, green grass hints of imminent spring, making my heart rejoice, as do the horses tossing their manes when I pass, surely shaking off sleep and the night, greeting the day… “
LikeLiked by 1 person
Many thanks, Maureen – there’s always some uplifting sight on these pastoral drives. Good for the soul!
LikeLike
This stream of conscious writing is like riding alongside you on your way to church, rejoicing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
A lovely slice of a stream! I enjoyed going for a ride along with you; your imagery took me right there.
“the horses tossing their manes when I pass, surely shaking off sleep and the night, greeting the day as if to say Good morning, good morning” — a poem nestled neatly inside your post. Thanks for sharing!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Many thanks, Amy. So much of life has a poem tucked inside.
LikeLike
This is a masterfully crafted sentence, full of the pacing of a Sunday drive: purposeful but leisurely, measured, as you take in what you see, consider each thought as it comes your way in, out, and back around again, then on to the next musing which, like the car on a Sunday drive, might veer down one pathway or back, perhaps taking a detour or a scenic route because there’s the time and the space to do so, with a ride a smooth and uninterrupted as one long, beautiful, masterfully crafted sentence.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ah – lovely stream of consciousness response. This is fun writing, is it not?? Thank you, Lainie.
LikeLiked by 1 person