The first taste of ice cream on a sticky summer day.

When we live in a world that runs rampant with an endless list of evils:

Poverty, hunger, racism,

Violence, disease, apathy,

And on, and on, and on,

And on, and on, and on,

It’s hard to remember that creamy, cool rush of relief a simple strawberry cone can bring.

It seems the world is filled with as many tragedies as celebrations -

But for a moment, let’s focus on wonderful, simple things.

 

Take the humble nose:

A steep slope glides down to a protruding mound of cartilage,

Resting smack in the middle of a face.

Two cavernous, flaring nostrils.

An unassuming appearance,

But where would we be without it?

 

What would life be without the scent of freshly cut grass in the summer?

Without the moment when the enticing aroma of a hearty stew hits you

As you walk through the door,

The sting of a cold, windy day still smarting on your cheeks?

Or the comfort that spreads from your nose to your lungs to your soul as you breathe deep

When you step into the coffee shop down the street?

 

What would we do without our tastebuds?

Those slippery little bumps on a saliva-coated muscle

Bring us the savory delight of a hand-tossed pizza,

The rich, buttery crunch of corn on the cob

And the refreshing coolness of icy lemonade

When the sun’s heat weighs heavily on your back.

 

Why do we overlook the power that rests in our eyes?

We have the opportunity to witness magic every day:

A stunning midnight sky, with swirling clouds, a glowing moon,

And stars like chandeliers that form constellations, patterns, puzzles

Powerful, undulating waves crashing onto a perfect shore

Sunlight spilling over a crest of trees in autumn -

Illuminating the vibrant reds, subdued oranges, playful yellows

Exposing the spindling veins and casting shadows.

 

How can we forget our ears, our magnificent ears -

The musicality of a stream is ours to behold:

The swelling crescendos of bubbling, rushing water

The soft staccatos of a plinking drip, drip, drip

Even traffic jams, with a shift in gears,

Become a discordant melody of cluster harmonies.

Have you ever noticed how exciting a honk sounds

When paired with the squeal of tires?

 

Who could neglect the sensation of touch?

If you try hard enough, you can feel the squishiness of sand beneath your toes

Even as you sit in your office chair.

It’s nature’s memory foam, after all.

If you use your imagination, the laptop keyboard in front of you becomes a grand piano.

You are not writing reports. You are composing symphonies.

Feel the pads of your fingers pound, leap, and glide along the polished, sleek keys.

Do you remember the childlike excitement

Of feeling bubble wrap pop under your powerful fingers?

 

Our world is flawed.

It is ridden with corruption and with evil,

With broken systems and impoverished people.

This is why we must embrace the gifts that we were given -

Open your eyes to take it all in,

Breathe in deep,

Savor every sip,

Listen for life’s compositions,

Feel all that passes through your grasp.