Extraordinary Inspiration

Sometimes great strokes of inspiration comes from the most fleeting and unexpected moments. It is the little encounter that causes a sparkling of wonderment, reverence, and insight to swirl through our heads. The moment becomes nested in your mind and heart.

I experienced this sensation while working at the summer band camps a few weeks ago.


A fellow instructor and I were walking back from the dining hall to the arts center after a particularly brick-like lunch. We were strolling along on a rather unremarkable stretch of sidewalk we have traveled countless times in the previous weeks. While I was looking up at the graying clouds wondering if it would indeed rain, he was looking along the ground. He scooped up a pine cone and put it to his ear. "Listen," he said. He put the pine cone up to my ear and plucked the spears like an African Kalimba. Different high pitched and woody tones vibrated from each spear. "This is a good pine cone," he said as he gently placed the conifer into his shoulder bag.

My heart stirred.

As I walked back to the dormitories that evening, again looking toward the skies, my mind finally managed to translate the flutterings of my heart:

Look at ordinary things in an extraordinary way.

Truly inspirational.

What moments have inspired you?
Merry writings.