“Rivers belong where they can ramble
Eagles belong where they can fly
I’ve got to be where my spirit can run free
Got to find my corner of the sky” – Pippin
I’ve always loved the 1972 Steven Schwartz musical, Pippin. The music is downloaded onto my iPod amid thousands of other songs. On my drive today, “Corner of the Sky” cued up and I really listened to the lyrics. They spoke to me in different way this morning.
In the past, this was a song of longing to find a “place” in the world, and questioning “why” it hadn’t happened yet. After all, everything else had their place, right? Rivers and eagles had a place – why not me? Where was MY corner of the sky? When will MY ship come in? Doggone it anyway – why can’t I seem to figure it all out? How do I figure out where my place is so I can be free?
Today was different. No longer did I feel a longing to find a place, to create it, to make something happen, or question why it hadn’t happened. Instead, I felt my corner of the sky is here and now. My spirit is free when I surrender, accept and lean in to the present moment.
Finding one’s corner does not come about by anguish and longing or aggressively creating it. Rather it comes from being aware of what is NOW in THIS time and THIS space is what is important. Being mindfully present to NOW is where my spirit is free – free and open that THIS is my time and place. There is a Zen saying “wherever you go, there you are.” I am here. I am in my corner of the sky.
What is YOUR corner of the sky? How do you know you are where you are supposed to be? What causes your spirit to run free?