Thought-Collage Thursday // Through the Open Window

An open window is a two-way relationship.

open window

Saw it on Pinterest. {Source}

I am quite aware of the sounds that find their way in to my house through my open doors and windows. In fact, truth be told, I can get a little annoyed that I am not living on a remote piece of land, unbothered by auditory clutter. But I just sometimes forget that some of me drifts out, too, to passersby.

“If your neighbor has wind chimes, you have wind chimes.” On my cousin’s FB timeline

These perfect, wide-open-window days and nights I hear things like:

The whistler. He lives across and down, a retired man, a gardener. His yard might be considered over-planted and a little too fussy with its’ stone deer and owls and whirligigs, but he provides us all with a dazzlingly array of flowers in shocking oranges and hot pinks only broken up by the perfectly coiffed green grass.  His yard is tiny compared to ours, but he walks it, he tends it, he improves it and enjoys it. And he whistles, non-stop. He whistles from sun up to sun down. You are never unaware of his time outdoors, because. Whistling.

The doggies. I guess because I don’t have one now, I am more aware of the neighbor’s dogs. One comes outside and announces his presence. Down a few houses, another answers that he, too, is outside. Across the way a couple of pups excitedly get in on the conversation. Soon, from many directions, the dogs, in almost a chorus, yelp and bark and woof away for just a little while, catching up on the events of the day. Then, just as quickly as it started, it dies down. But they’ll gab over fences again soon, several times a day, without fail.

The birds are just delightful. I have a yard the birds love. At first light this morning, I pulled the curtains open to watch some blackbirds and robins searching for seeds in the cool morning grass. Some walk, some hop (**boing-boing-boing**).

A couple of stealthy squirrels were ambling down the neighbor’s roof-line, trying to wage a secret attack and eat whatever the birds had found first, but when they tried to shimmy down branches on a very young, supple tree, they fell 3 feet to the ground, ker-plunk! They were found out. The birds chirped some “I-don’t-think-so’s” their direction and went back to their search. Said squirrels scampered away.

I see the bunny, “Peter-Cottontale,” I call him. He first appeared the evening Sandy died, mourning with us. He munches on grass and co-exists with us. Every evening, as the sun is setting, I know he’ll be right there, just outside my window saying, “Yes, I miss Sandy, too.”

Through the open window, I hear the early birdsong and the all-day bird chatter. I hear a fly try to get through the screen, buzzzz-smack. Foiled. I hear the car horns toot, girls driving by a popular boy’s house across the street. Sirens in the offing. Conversations between neighbors are carried on the breeze. Children are playing on the sidewalks, lots of laughter, an occasional crying bout. Every morning a young dad and his two girls bicycle past, always talking excitedly, having genuine conversations. Then they come back on their way home, planning their day, enjoying each other. The mailman, heavy-footed stomping up, then down the stairs, talks loudly on his cellphone on my front porch. And passing cars with their windows rolled down “share” their music.

And what drifts out? I hope goodwill. I hope they aren’t annoyed that I sing all. the. time. I hope if they hear the song, they start singing, too. And I hope they don’t think badly of me for setting off the fire alarm several days in a row.  I do hope they enjoy the wonderful smells coming from my kitchen. An open window is a two-way relationship. It’s good to remember this.

breeze open window

Is it sacrilegious to question this?

You know how everyone always says, “When God closes a door He opens a window?” It’s usually to try to placate us when something hasn’t worked out like we thought it would or when times are hard. But I’m not a fan of it. I think God knows I have a bad knee and climbing through a window would be risky. Plus, He doesn’t seem to be the type running around closing doors and locking them on people. He said Come, knock, the door will be opened to you. Not Ha-gotcha! Go find a little window to jump through! I mean, I might do that. But not God. Pretty sure.

I’ll just try the back door, thank-you very much. Or maybe just remember to knock and wait for Him to open it.

I did climb through a window once, though.

I did. I climbed out a window to go see a boy. I was 16 and *gloriously stupid.* I told my sister to leave the window cracked. I’d know my parents had discovered my absence if it was closed when I returned and I’d have to come in the front door and it wouldn’t be pretty. So, I went. I saw him and it was uneventful and certainly not worth the risk.

I came back and the window was closed tight. Closed! Dread, panic, doom, gloom…I felt nauseated, a rush of blood to my head, the tingle of hyperventilating stinging my face in chaotic patterns (having just run a mile home in the dark; see “*gloriously stupid*” above), scared-stiff! I pondered my options. Heart pounding, I tapped very lightly on the window, once, then twice, again…finally, my little sister got up, groggily, and opened the window. “Do mom and dad know I left?” I asked anxiously.

“No,” she whispered, “I just got cold.”

O-m-gee!!! I couldn’t be mad because she was keeping my secret, but geez! Even now, at fifty-something, I hope my dad doesn’t see this blog post!

A scripture about an open window, but not the one you’re thinking:

“We met on Sunday to worship and celebrate the Master’s Supper. Paul addressed the congregation. Our plan was to leave first thing in the morning, but Paul talked on, way past midnight. We were meeting in a well-lighted upper room. A young man named Eutychus was sitting in an open window. As Paul went on and on, Eutychus fell sound asleep and toppled out the third-story window. When they picked him up, he was dead.” – Acts 20.7-9

I know you were expecting the tithing scripture from Malachi 3 about not robbing God and then He will open the windows of heaven. But I thought this story from Acts was fun and different. Ends well, btw. Go. Read!

Open your windows! I suggest:

Let in the sweet spring air and the bright, lingering light. Hear the neighbor’s mowers and dogs and children. Speak a blessing out those same windows, let what drifts through your windows out to the world be good and godly, life-giving and love-filled. Think of the possibilities!

open window chalk

{source}

47 thoughts on “Thought-Collage Thursday // Through the Open Window

  1. Loved reading this as several of my windows are open this moment – letting in sounds of our neighbor’s little dog yapping, birds chirping and fresh cool air floating in, neutralizing the stale pent-up air that stagnates when all the windows and doors are shut up tight.

  2. Everything you describe I can see it. So beautiful. I love sitting outside and hearing all the sounds of the town.I love your writing.

  3. Yes, so refreshing! I often wonder as I look out my windows, how many people take for granted all these wonderful thing. Great post!

  4. What a lovely piece! :) I am loivng these classes too, and must admit I spent more time on this “quick” assignment than the other two hehe. I didn’t have many stamps, so I ended up finding “stamp images” online and printing them out in black and white. I think it’s nice that everyone takes their own approach to it and gives a fresh outlook about the obtaining the objectives of the course.

  5. Thanks a lot for providing individuals with an exceptionally memorable opportunity to read articles and blog posts from this site. It’s usually very pleasing and as well , full of amusement for me personally and my office friends to search your web site no less than thrice in 7 days to see the new stuff you will have. Not to mention, I am also actually motivated with the very good principles you serve. Some 3 areas in this article are basically the finest we have all ever had.

  6. I’m writing to make you be aware of of the outstanding discovery our princess had visiting your blog. She came to understand such a lot of issues, which included what it’s like to possess an ideal giving mindset to let most people with ease fully grasp a number of very confusing issues. You truly exceeded visitors’ expectations. Many thanks for displaying those great, trusted, educational and in addition unique tips on that topic to Jane.

  7. I’m commenting to make you understand what a notable experience my wife’s daughter experienced studying yuor web blog. She mastered too many pieces, including how it is like to possess an incredible helping mindset to make most people without problems completely grasp specified very confusing matters. You really surpassed my expectations. Many thanks for distributing such good, trustworthy, informative and even easy tips on the topic to Sandra.

  8. I wanted to send a small remark to be able to thank you for the wonderful tips you are posting on this site. My prolonged internet investigation has at the end of the day been honored with pleasant strategies to write about with my co-workers. I ‘d say that we readers are truly fortunate to exist in a fabulous community with many outstanding individuals with good methods. I feel very fortunate to have come across the webpages and look forward to plenty of more cool minutes reading here. Thanks again for all the details.

  9. Thank you for all your labor on this web page. My mother takes pleasure in conducting investigations and it’s really easy to see why. Many of us learn all of the compelling mode you render practical guides on the website and as well recommend participation from others on this article then our favorite girl is in fact starting to learn so much. Enjoy the remaining portion of the year. You’re doing a wonderful job.

  10. I have to show appreciation to this writer just for bailing me out of this issue. After researching through the search engines and obtaining views that were not productive, I figured my entire life was well over. Existing devoid of the answers to the issues you’ve solved by way of your main guideline is a serious case, as well as the ones that might have in a negative way damaged my entire career if I hadn’t noticed the website. Your primary talents and kindness in handling everything was excellent. I don’t know what I would’ve done if I hadn’t encountered such a step like this. I’m able to at this time relish my future. Thanks for your time so much for your expert and results-oriented help. I will not hesitate to propose your web blog to any person who wants and needs assistance on this area.

  11. I’m also commenting to make you be aware of what a fantastic discovery my friend’s princess had studying yuor web blog. She came to find a good number of pieces, which included what it is like to have an incredible teaching mindset to get the rest with ease thoroughly grasp various extremely tough topics. You truly surpassed our expected results. Thank you for presenting such important, trusted, educational and as well as easy tips on the topic to Mary.

  12. I precisely desired to thank you very much once more. I’m not certain the things I could possibly have achieved in the absence of these techniques discussed by you over such a industry. It truly was a very frightening matter for me personally, nevertheless noticing your specialized approach you solved the issue took me to cry over fulfillment. Extremely thankful for your assistance and as well , believe you comprehend what an amazing job you are always providing instructing the mediocre ones through the use of a blog. I am certain you haven’t got to know any of us.

  13. I and my friends have already been looking through the excellent items located on your website then then got an awful suspicion I never thanked the web site owner for those tips. Those guys had been certainly happy to learn them and have now very much been enjoying these things. Thank you for genuinely indeed thoughtful and for finding this kind of remarkable resources millions of individuals are really needing to be aware of. Our own honest regret for not saying thanks to earlier.

  14. Thank you so much for giving everyone remarkably breathtaking opportunity to read from this blog. It can be so great and as well , stuffed with a great time for me and my office acquaintances to search the blog minimum three times weekly to read the fresh stuff you will have. And of course, I am also actually fascinated considering the brilliant tips you serve. Selected two tips in this article are truly the very best we’ve had.

  15. I wish to express my gratitude for your generosity in support of folks who should have help on the concern. Your special dedication to getting the message up and down became incredibly important and has constantly empowered guys much like me to arrive at their endeavors. Your entire interesting key points means this much to me and a whole lot more to my office workers. Best wishes; from all of us.

  16. I’m writing to make you know what a amazing experience my friend’s daughter encountered studying yuor web blog. She learned such a lot of details, including what it is like to have a very effective coaching spirit to let a number of people with ease completely grasp certain tricky topics. You truly exceeded our own expectations. Many thanks for coming up with such insightful, safe, informative and in addition cool tips about your topic to Janet.

  17. My spouse and i got really ecstatic when Edward could finish off his investigation out of the ideas he made when using the web site. It is now and again perplexing to simply possibly be giving freely tactics which often people might have been trying to sell. And now we recognize we need the writer to be grateful to because of that. The main illustrations you made, the easy blog menu, the relationships you will make it easier to foster – it’s mostly remarkable, and it is aiding our son and us believe that the issue is amusing, which is certainly especially mandatory. Many thanks for all!

  18. A lot of thanks for all your efforts on this web page. My aunt delights in engaging in internet research and it’s really easy to see why. A number of us hear all of the compelling medium you give valuable guidance by means of this website and as well strongly encourage participation from the others on the area then our child is without question understanding a lot of things. Take pleasure in the remaining portion of the new year. You’re conducting a very good job.

  19. I’m just writing to make you understand what a brilliant discovery my cousin’s girl had reading through your web page. She mastered so many things, most notably what it’s like to have a wonderful helping spirit to let certain people very easily thoroughly grasp selected multifaceted matters. You actually surpassed people’s desires. Many thanks for presenting those precious, dependable, educational as well as unique tips on your topic to Janet.

  20. Thank you so much for giving everyone such a special chance to check tips from this website. It is usually very ideal and as well , packed with a good time for me personally and my office peers to search your web site no less than thrice every week to read the newest secrets you have. And indeed, I’m so actually fascinated with all the surprising knowledge served by you. Some 2 points in this post are really the finest I’ve ever had.

  21. I have to express my thanks to this writer just for rescuing me from this type of instance. Because of surfing around through the world-wide-web and coming across basics which were not powerful, I thought my life was over. Living minus the strategies to the issues you’ve fixed by means of your good article is a crucial case, as well as those that would have in a negative way damaged my career if I hadn’t discovered your site. Your primary know-how and kindness in dealing with all the stuff was crucial. I am not sure what I would’ve done if I hadn’t come across such a stuff like this. I can at this moment look forward to my future. Thanks so much for this high quality and results-oriented guide. I will not hesitate to suggest your web blog to any individual who requires counselling about this area.

  22. Thank you so much for providing individuals with such a pleasant possiblity to read critical reviews from this blog. It is always so beneficial and as well , full of amusement for me and my office acquaintances to search your website at least three times in one week to study the newest items you will have. Of course, I am just at all times amazed considering the unbelievable creative concepts you give. Some 3 facts in this article are easily the most suitable I have had.

  23. I would like to show appreciation to this writer for bailing me out of this crisis. Because of scouting through the the net and seeing notions which were not powerful, I thought my entire life was done. Existing minus the approaches to the issues you’ve sorted out all through the short article is a serious case, and those that might have adversely affected my career if I had not encountered your blog. Your own capability and kindness in playing with the whole lot was very helpful. I don’t know what I would have done if I hadn’t come across such a solution like this. It’s possible to at this point look ahead to my future. Thanks for your time very much for your specialized and result oriented guide. I will not think twice to endorse your blog post to anybody who wants and needs assistance on this issue.

  24. My husband and i got really contented when Louis could complete his researching while using the precious recommendations he had in your web site. It’s not at all simplistic just to possibly be giving out secrets which often many people could have been making money from. So we keep in mind we have the blog owner to appreciate for that. The illustrations you’ve made, the simple site navigation, the relationships you help to promote – it’s got many terrific, and it’s leading our son and our family do think the idea is brilliant, and that is rather indispensable. Many thanks for the whole lot!

  25. I simply wanted to appreciate you yet again. I am not sure what I might have implemented in the absence of those techniques discussed by you relating to this concern. Completely was the daunting concern in my position, but taking a look at the expert strategy you treated the issue forced me to leap with contentment. I’m just happier for this assistance and even expect you realize what an amazing job you are always accomplishing training other individuals through your websites. I am sure you’ve never come across all of us.

  26. Thanks for your own labor on this web page. My aunt really loves participating in investigations and it’s really easy to understand why. My partner and i know all regarding the compelling manner you deliver both useful and interesting things on the website and even recommend response from other individuals on this area of interest so our favorite daughter has been being taught so much. Take advantage of the rest of the new year. You’re performing a glorious job.

  27. I wish to convey my appreciation for your kindness for those people who really want help with this important field. Your personal commitment to getting the message all around became extremely beneficial and has always empowered those just like me to reach their aims. Your own useful tips and hints signifies a great deal a person like me and substantially more to my fellow workers. Regards; from everyone of us.

  28. I wanted to send a small comment to be able to say thanks to you for all of the amazing hints you are placing at this site. My time consuming internet lookup has now been compensated with beneficial concept to talk about with my visitors. I ‘d tell you that most of us visitors actually are truly lucky to dwell in a fine network with so many lovely individuals with very helpful guidelines. I feel rather fortunate to have encountered your entire web site and look forward to some more fabulous minutes reading here. Thanks a lot once again for a lot of things.

  29. I as well as my friends ended up studying the great procedures from your web site and then quickly got an awful feeling I never expressed respect to the website owner for those secrets. The young boys are actually consequently passionate to see them and already have clearly been enjoying them. Appreciation for truly being considerably accommodating and also for finding this kind of amazing subject areas millions of individuals are really wanting to learn about. Our sincere regret for not expressing appreciation to earlier.

  30. I wish to express my appreciation to you just for bailing me out of this particular issue. Just after researching throughout the world wide web and getting thoughts which were not helpful, I was thinking my life was gone. Existing devoid of the approaches to the problems you have solved by means of your entire article content is a crucial case, as well as those which might have negatively damaged my entire career if I hadn’t discovered your web blog. The training and kindness in taking care of all things was crucial. I’m not sure what I would’ve done if I had not come across such a thing like this. I am able to at this time relish my future. Thanks for your time so much for this impressive and results-oriented guide. I won’t be reluctant to refer your blog to any person who needs to have support on this area.

  31. My spouse and i were really glad Ervin could do his web research using the ideas he acquired through your weblog. It’s not at all simplistic to simply continually be giving freely secrets that the others might have been making money from. And now we discover we have the blog owner to give thanks to for this. The entire illustrations you made, the easy website menu, the friendships you make it possible to promote – it’s all awesome, and it’s really leading our son in addition to us consider that the topic is amusing, and that is unbelievably serious. Thanks for all the pieces!

  32. I must express my appreciation to the writer just for rescuing me from this trouble. Just after checking through the online world and seeing concepts that were not beneficial, I assumed my entire life was done. Being alive devoid of the answers to the difficulties you’ve sorted out as a result of your main website is a critical case, as well as those which could have negatively affected my career if I had not come across your website. Your own know-how and kindness in dealing with every item was excellent. I’m not sure what I would have done if I had not come upon such a stuff like this. I can now look forward to my future. Thanks a lot very much for the reliable and effective guide. I won’t think twice to refer the website to any person who requires care about this subject.

  33. I really wanted to write down a brief message in order to thank you for some of the wonderful tricks you are showing at this website. My extended internet search has finally been rewarded with pleasant knowledge to exchange with my classmates and friends. I would state that that many of us website visitors actually are really fortunate to exist in a wonderful place with very many marvellous individuals with interesting solutions. I feel pretty grateful to have seen your web page and look forward to really more fun minutes reading here. Thanks a lot once more for everything.

  34. Thank you a lot for giving everyone an exceptionally remarkable chance to read from here. It’s always so great plus jam-packed with fun for me personally and my office colleagues to visit your website at a minimum three times in 7 days to read the new things you have. And lastly, I’m also always contented for the unbelievable thoughts you serve. Some 3 areas in this article are unquestionably the most effective I’ve had.

  35. A lot of thanks for your whole efforts on this website. Ellie takes pleasure in conducting investigations and it’s easy to understand why. A number of us know all about the dynamic mode you present both interesting and useful guides on the web site and even recommend participation from the others on that area while our princess is certainly discovering a lot. Enjoy the rest of the new year. You are always carrying out a really great job.

  36. I just wanted to compose a simple comment to thank you for all of the awesome suggestions you are giving out on this site. My prolonged internet search has finally been recognized with high-quality strategies to talk about with my partners. I ‘d claim that many of us readers are undoubtedly lucky to exist in a useful place with very many awesome individuals with useful principles. I feel truly fortunate to have seen your weblog and look forward to many more entertaining times reading here. Thank you once again for all the details.

  37. My husband and i felt absolutely delighted that Jordan could conclude his investigation by way of the ideas he got out of the web pages. It is now and again perplexing to simply always be releasing guidelines that many some people have been making money from. And we all figure out we have the blog owner to appreciate for this. These explanations you made, the straightforward site navigation, the friendships you help to create – it’s got mostly exceptional, and it’s really leading our son and our family reason why that subject matter is awesome, and that is unbelievably pressing. Thanks for all the pieces!

  38. I have to show my thanks to you just for rescuing me from this type of situation. As a result of researching throughout the the web and meeting ways which are not powerful, I thought my entire life was done. Being alive without the strategies to the difficulties you have sorted out as a result of your main site is a serious case, as well as the ones which might have in a negative way affected my career if I had not come across your web blog. Your skills and kindness in dealing with all the things was very helpful. I am not sure what I would’ve done if I had not come across such a subject like this. I can also at this time look ahead to my future. Thanks very much for the skilled and sensible guide. I will not hesitate to suggest your web site to anybody who should get tips on this area.

  39. My wife and i were now peaceful Edward managed to round up his basic research through your ideas he acquired from your very own weblog. It’s not at all simplistic to just continually be releasing tips which many people may have been making money from. So we remember we have you to give thanks to for that. The entire illustrations you have made, the straightforward site menu, the relationships you will aid to instill – it’s got everything powerful, and it’s letting our son in addition to our family understand the subject matter is exciting, which is certainly quite serious. Thanks for the whole lot!

  40. I would like to get across my love for your generosity for people who should have help on this one area. Your special commitment to passing the message across had been amazingly informative and has in most cases enabled girls much like me to reach their ambitions. Your new important facts indicates a whole lot a person like me and further more to my fellow workers. With thanks; from each one of us.

  41. I needed to draft you that very little note in order to say thank you over again on your stunning techniques you have documented on this site. It has been so incredibly open-handed of you to grant unhampered all a lot of folks would have offered for an electronic book in order to make some bucks for their own end, principally considering that you might well have done it in the event you wanted. Those principles in addition worked to be a great way to fully grasp other individuals have the identical keenness much like my personal own to figure out lots more related to this condition. I think there are some more pleasant opportunities in the future for individuals who examine your blog.

  42. I must show my affection for your kind-heartedness for those who actually need help with this area of interest. Your special dedication to passing the message around came to be certainly valuable and has in most cases enabled many people like me to arrive at their ambitions. Your valuable suggestions denotes so much to me and far more to my colleagues. With thanks; from each one of us.

  43. I want to express my thanks to the writer just for bailing me out of this particular matter. Right after looking through the the net and coming across ways which were not beneficial, I figured my life was over. Existing without the approaches to the issues you have resolved by way of your main post is a crucial case, as well as ones that might have in a wrong way damaged my entire career if I hadn’t come across your website. Your primary know-how and kindness in taking care of all the details was precious. I don’t know what I would’ve done if I had not come across such a solution like this. It’s possible to now look ahead to my future. Thank you so much for the reliable and amazing help. I won’t think twice to endorse your web site to any person who would need guidance on this area.

  44. I am only commenting to make you be aware of of the incredible encounter my wife’s daughter undergone checking your web site. She came to understand some details, which include what it’s like to have a great coaching character to let the rest effortlessly completely grasp a variety of tricky subject areas. You truly did more than our own expected results. Many thanks for supplying the beneficial, trustworthy, informative and as well as unique thoughts on the topic to Lizeth.

Leave a Reply to hermes handbags Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *