it's kept the windchimes busy...

it has been windy the last few days

but tonight I have listened to the wind increase in force,

whipping

howling

whistling down my chimney

pressing against the windows

making things creak

greedily grasping for anything loose

I didn't realize how loud it was until it stopped

and things were quiet

I was so used to the noise

the lack of it was almost eerie

I think life is like that sometimes

our schedules get busy

demands press hard against us

circumstances are loud

the important gets pushed aside by the urgent

or we are caught up in a storm

and we deal with it for so long

that chaos becomes "normal"

and while we are exhausted by it

and we wish for peace and quiet

when things calm down it is weird and we feel uncomfortable 

so we push away the discomfort by diving back into busy overload

it took me a long time to figure out I need the quiet

even if life is chaotic and the house is full

I need at least a few focused, quiet minutes everyday

it rests my mind

it rests my heart

it rests my spirit

it rests my soul

it is so important, 

I fight for it 

and I can tell when I've pushed too hard,

when I've  gone too long without quiet rest,

because even the slightest ruffling of my feathers is overwhelming