“Those Eyes”

Over the past two and a half months life has shifted in a powerful, life altering way for me and the rest of our tribe with the arrival of Ava Kate. It’s difficult to put into words the increased depth of meaning and connection I have felt with the advent of the “Pops” portion of my life. I am privileged in so many ways and deeply blessed to a degree far more than I can possibly deserve, now or ever.

Recently I’ve envisioned my life much like a mountain hike. In my fifties and now a grandfather, I know I’ve reached the summit and now, while hopefully still near the peak with many more things to see and experience, I’ve begun my descent. I’ve found, sometimes the hard way, that our experiences, if we are willing to look, can bring wisdom. Life and death are so intertwined, mysterious, at times tragic, and often unpredictable. Life has its share of good, bad, and ugly. Yet it is indeed a gift.

As I look into Ava’s beautiful eyes I find that I am seeing depth, vitality, and meaning around me that while likely there I’d simply missed before.

In his profound piece titled “Lean Back,” Richard Hendricks writes

“In your body a thousand generations

walk again upon the world.

In your eyes a unique soul gazes out upon the world.

Lean back into all those who have made you, you;

parents, siblings, family, neighbors, friends, lovers, colleagues,

the passing encounters of a moment,

the deep connections that last a lifetime,

they all travel with you.”

As my journey continues I am finding that when I look into sweet Ava Kate’s big beautiful eyes I am seeing more, and more vividly. “Those eyes” have opened my own as I reflect more thoughtfully upon the past, navigate the challenges of this present moment, and hope and dream for what is yet to come. Lord give us eyes to see. Amen.