As she slept

Q: What is the most miraculous of all miracles?

A: That I sit quietly by myself.

~ Zen Mondo

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Well, family life makes it a bit challenging to actually sit by myself most days, so I gave up that idea and purposely sat zazen in Amy's room as she slept. I just wanted to be close to my 5 year old daughter for a while. I miss her on the nights that I come home late and she's already asleep in bed.

I remember reading an article about a mother who also was an ordained Zen priest who would take turns sitting zazen in each of her kid’s rooms and thought I'd give it a try.

It felt really neat, a very different experience from sitting alone in my room. At one point, I realized that I had started crying. I think they were more tears of joy and well-being than tears of sadness. I felt a bit silly for getting so emotional. But then I let that thought go too and returned to my breathing and just being with the miracle that is my daughter as she slept.