As I sit at my desk by the patio door composing a few thoughts to share with you, I am hearing a repetitive thump against the door from the outside. This door has a reflective film applied to the inside to reduce the sun’s glare and to keep my indoor space cooler. It also is mirrored on the outside to provide privacy. Numerous birds have committed suicide flying into the door thinking they are flying into open space or maybe to engage the image of the other bird in the mirror.
The thump is a lizard. Where I live the lizard is as common as the mosquitoes that they feast on. Color it green and we have hundreds of Geico geckos prowling the yard and patio. They provide great entertainment for the cats confined indoors.
This particular lizard has taken a liking to its image or perhaps it is attempting to snare the attention of any nearby female lizards. He jumps from a chair into the glass, falls to the ground, climbs the chair again and leaps into the image on the glass. Again and again and again. Watching him is exhausting yet at the same time inspiring.
Have we ever been like that lizard? In recovery programs we call it insanity. We drank to excess again and again and again, thinking that maybe this time the outcome would be different. Instead of getting wasted, belligerent and violent, we believed that we could drink sociably, drive home safely, engage with our families lovingly, go to bed happily and arise the next morning for work bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. Yeah, guys, that was absolute insanity.
That silly lizard climbs onto the chair, jumps into the mirror for whatever reason his lizard-sized brain is formulating and all he will accomplish is an oversized headache in the morning. Sound familiar?
When was the last time you woke up with an enormous headache trying to remember how you got home last night, where did I park the truck, is my spouse going to serve me eggs or throw them at me when I go to breakfast?
Remembering those times is a blessing, continually living those times is insanity. Where do we stand?
But back to the lizard. The persistence. It is inspiring. We had it when we were pursuing the bottle and now we can apply it to living a fruitful, productive and joyous life with spouses and families. Our Higher Power is awesome.
And Gabby says Amen.
GABBY GRAYWHISKERS 