I notice a sinking feeling.
Argh! This isn’t what I want.

I tread water,
grope for a footing.

Then, I notice,
as I do the next thing–chop the carrots and onions–
and the next–answer that email–
I’ve floated past the obstacle.

Later on, I notice
elation,
a rising of delight and wonder.

I lay my head back, arms stretched out.
My feet pop to the surface.
I breathe in fresh air
with my face to the wide-open sky.

The sinking feeling came like a wave,
joy like another.

I’m floating in an ocean of Love
receiving this breath,
and now, this one.

I hope I will remember this–
even for a nanosecond–
when stormy waves come
and keep coming.

And if I don’t,
I’m grateful You’re treading water
with me.

We cannot attain the presence of God  
because we are already totally in the presence of God. 
What’s absent is awareness. 
Little do we realize that God is maintaining us in existence  
with every breath we take. 
As we take another it means that God is choosing us  
now and now and now. 
–Richard Rohr, Everything Belongs 

Credits and References:
Treading Water by Coast Guard News. Used with permission.
Floating by Esther Hizsa, 2026
Floating by Sheila Dee. Used with permission.

© Esther Hizsa, An Everyday Pilgrim, 2026.
The unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without permission from Esther Hizsa is prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used provided there is a link to the original content and credit is given as follows: © Esther Hizsa, An Everyday Pilgrim 2013-2026.  http://www.estherhizsa.com