As a Sunbeam

As a sunbeam: 

of my two cats, sisters adopted from a shelter almost a year ago, it's the smaller one that always seems to find the sunbeam, having a special talent of finding warmth and light, tracking the sun's reach as it travels through the living room, stretched out and basking in its rays. I will generally find her wherever there is a spot of sun that lights the floor, gradually shifting towards wherever the sunbeam next appears. What I especially love to observe is when she accidentally discovers a new sunlit spot, walking through the room for whatever purpose she has in mind and suddenly finding herself in a place of warmth and light, collapsing immediately in a delighted stretch and offering her belly to the entire length of sun. I know I'm witnessing an act of sheer joy and pleasure, spontaneous, and it extends towards me, reaching me in the same manner as a sunbeam and a delighted cat. 

I am touched by this same light...

even from a room away. 

thinking of this now, and it's still an hour more before sunrise, but I know that there's a reach of light that heads in this direction, hitting the glass plane just right, perfect in its timing, and my little cat will be the first of us to greet it. She's patient, light always finds its way to her, and she shows her  appreciation in a deep stretch of joy that covers every inch of a sunbeam's offer. She will contort herself to fit exactly in its lighted spot, it's truly a bask of pleasure, not changing her location until the eventually sun moves on. 

and what I think of right now is of her appreciation, that one joyful moment of light and warmth, lasting only as long as the length of the sun's travel through the room. She doesn't lament the sun's motion, each sunlit position is a new discovery of joy, another place that offers her a moment to stretch within its light, every sunbeam is unique and holy, meant for her alone, and she'll adopt her posture to fit fully in its length, content with what is given. 

all of this extends towards me, the same joy and light...

reaching me as a sunbeam.

and I find myself content,

exactly where I am. 

~

Peace, Eric