Close to heaven?

I had all but forgotten how it feels to be walking in the rolling hills of the field that surrounds our home. No one but me and Marley (our lab mix). I had all but forgotten the peace of watching the world around me without the distractions of other people. The comfort of contemplating life, talking to God, and reflecting on the things that I am grateful for. The big things, like my wife's improving health, my friends, family, a home and food. And the little things, like finally shedding a few pounds, the breeze (albeit a chilly one), a weekend off, and the song that's playing in my head being my own.

I recently reconnected with an old friend whom, for as far as anyone would'be guessed, I never thought I would speak to again. It's been great talking to him the last couple of weeks. You know your friendships are real when you haven't spoken to someone in almost eight years and it's like you just saw each other yesterday. It's been very good for me. He wants to start a band when he gets home from the Army, I'm looking forward to it. I didn't even realize just how much I missed him.

I've been playing bass again. Religiously for the first time In years. It's great to feel the thickness on my fingertips again. Writing melodic intrumentals like I used to when all I had to do was sit in my room and play. Writing again feels like the best thing this world has to offer. I feel like this block I've had for the last three years is finally being broken.

Advocacy has taken a prominent place in my life. I've dedicated my heart to helping spread awareness for the disease that, for all intensive purposes, nearly crippled my wife. We've been tossing around ideas for fundraisers, including a benefit concert... more to come on that later, and we hosted a Yellow Shirt Day to promote awareness, to which we had an amazing response. My heart is filled with love for all our friends, coworkers, family, and even strangers who showed their support.

I only half about another month and a half before this field is filled with hay and my walks will have to cease. Until then, I will be taking every opportunity to do this.
But right now, sitting in this open field, watching the water in the pond a across the street, I'm at peace. I'm not focusing on bills, work, disease, car troubles. I'm just listening. Listening to the world around me, the song in my head, the beating of my own heart, and I'm home. People always say "this is as close as it gets to Heaven on earth", well, for me, right here, right now, this is. My prayer for you, whether or not you read this, is that your lives would be filled with moments like these.

And that's all I've got to say about that.

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