Clouds are amazing, but we often miss them, caught up in our fast-paced (often frenzied) lives. We see only what’s right in front of us—myopia blocking out all else. Last week, I was driving down the road and just had to pull into the parking lot of “closed for the season” ice cream parlor because Mother Nature was holding up a big “free admission” banner shouting out, “come one, come all, look at this amazing show!” I was blown away by the beauty of what was right in front of me—cloud formations that looked like a Maxfield Parrish painting.
I thought about clouds and their amazing, transformative qualities—
they let the sun in
they block out the light
they shelter us from the heat
they torment us with their floods
they create shadows and
they create stories and
I thought about a story/song written by Joni Mitchell.
“Both Sides Now”
And ice cream castles in the air
And feather canyons everywhere
I’ve looked at clouds that way
When have you seen the beauty in the clouds; creating images; telling stories?
They rain and snow on everyone
So many things I would have done
But clouds got in my way
How often have you cursed the clouds and what they’ve delivered?
From up and down and still somehow
It’s cloud’s illusions I recall
I really don’t know clouds at all
Do you get to the place where you’re able to see different perspectives but aren’t sure what’s real?
The dizzy dancing way you feel
As every fairy tale comes real
I’ve looked at love that way
Have you ever felt that starry-eyed, “the world is just perfect” sensation?
You leave ’em laughing when you go
And if you care, don’t let them know
Don’t give yourself away|
Has life taught you to be “on”, but never real?
From give and take and still somehow
It’s love’s illusions I recall
I really don’t know love at all
What do you believe about love now?
they let the sun in
they block out the light
they shelter us from the heat
they torment us with their floods
they create shadows and
they create stories.
Clouds are a lot like us;
revealing different sides and
different perspectives
on different days,
continuing to take on and let out, to move and to regroup, to ebb and flow,
just like you, just like me, just like life.
Twitter: @kaymclane
Instagram: @peace_full_home
Facebook: facebook.com/kayspeacefullhome
peace full home®—intentional living 