There has been a dark cloud around my heart lately. It happens sometimes. I think pretty much everyone knows the feeling.

Late afternoon, heading out the door with the dog, leash in hand, pausing for a moment on the porch – my gaze, as always, moves to the sky. It’s an hour or two before a riot of sunset hues will begin to flood the horizon – the atmosphere still a palette of blues and grays.

Glowing, cold white edges trim the tops of crouching, wolf-gray clouds. Rays of light – the kind you see in paintings of angels – fan out above. I call it God-light, lending grace.

The clouds shift ever so slightly, causing the beams to become more pronounced. Not unexpectedly, an Earworm of the Day immediately begins playing its track in my mind. While this heavenly display should probably be calling up the music of a celestial choir and images of Seraphim, it is “Touch of Gray” by the Grateful Dead that cues up in my head.

The ABC’s
We all must face
And try to keep a little grace

The glowing margins are actually so bright it almost hurts to look at them, yet I can’t look away. Light emerging from darkness – this is what a vision of hope might resemble, the silver lining in every cloud. A visual message right in your face – the reminder to Look for the Silver Lining.

The ABC’s
We all think of
And try to keep a little love

The dog tugs on his leash, sending his clear dog-message; “Let’s get going, time to move on”. Taking one more glance of appreciation and acknowledgement toward the sky, we head down the stairs and out to the street. Time to move on.

I will get by
I will get by
I will get by
I will survive

We will get by
We will get by
We will get by
We will survive

~*~

“Touch of Gray” – by Jerry Garcia & Robert Hunter – Grateful Dead, “In the Dark” 1987