I was just looking at this lithe little tree we have in our newly-landscaped front yard. It’s grown a lot in the two years since we planted it. It sways in the breeze, light glinting off of its gentle leaves, as the afternoon turns to dusk.

The gold of the light melds with the green of the tree and it’s lovely.

I recall meeting a small child named Amelia this morning, all of maybe 18 months. Held in her momma’s arms, she had a good hold on part of a blueberry muffin. For some reason, she held it out as an offering to women who approached to coo over her. Men, not so much. That’s ok. She was a beautiful little girl, large eyes open to the world around her.

Beauty arrives in surprising places so long as we make ourselves available. In the midst of so many storms, are we making ourselves available?