I stopped in the park this morning to look at the mist on the river. July 31 and not even 70 degrees, what a blessing. I needed to stop and regather myself. It has been too easy this last week to fall into dark thoughts whenever I look at the news- shooting at a local park during a high school reunion, grandmother shot in crossfire and killed on the street while walking with her grandchildren, the awful situation in the Middle East, Russia and Ukraine, ebola in Sierra Leone, my mind picks up all the dark stuff and pounds me with it as long as I let it. To what good end? Better to go sit with friends, be in community, be aware but wary of falling into that darkness. I am grateful today for the company of friends, the cool weather, the mist on the river. I will hang onto that. Photo to follow.