One recent morning I couldn't sleep and arose a little after 4:00. I was startled to observe the moon from my kitchen window. It was a waning crescent, hovering over the horizon. As the morning awoke, the moon appeared to rise in the sky and I couldn't help checking on it every few minutes. A strange thing, though... I noticed a tiny replication of that bright arc reflected in my window.
It's a mystery to me how this could occur because I think of a window as conveying a clear view. "Reality," in other words. Yet I'm also conscious of standing in front of a shop window and seeing reflections of myself or what is behind me. On my December visit to Florence, Italy I was captivated by the artistic Christmas decorations in La Rinascente Department Store windows. However, when I looked with eyes less focused on the art, I realized I could also see the buildings on the street at my back. This awareness made the whole experience more memorable.
I often go through each day without truly seeing the whole picture. I get caught up in tasks that obscure what is going on around me. It can be a revelation to pause from time to time and actually observe my surroundings more keenly. Ironically, it is also possible to "see the bigger picture" when I concentrate less on the details. There can be something to learn from each viewpoint.
I can observe reflections, like the moon in front of me and the Florence street scene behind me, but I can also "reflect on" what I experience. Then my day, my life, is richer by far.
