Potential: The Realm of the Possible

This day the weather dallies with me. A bit of sun and blue sky greeted me upon rising, only to be drowned in a bucket of rainfall, which promptly transformed into floating flakes . . . but only for a moment. Just now, the sun has broken free and bathed the dampened gardens with an iridescence most magical. Plink! Returns the rain. And so it will go throughout the day and week as foretold by the foretellers.

I see beyond the wetness and chill winds to a cozy possibility. With a stewing pot and rising bread, all worries over dinner preparation vanish and I freely indulge in thoughts of warm chocolate pudding baked in a bowl to be ladled out in slabs. Can’t you just smell that gooey goodness? Imagine the smiles as each returns to be greeted by a chocolatey whiff-like-a-kiss at the doorway. I giggle at the thought of such an intangible gift.

These days I delight in musing over the intangible gifts found in a day. At a time when the news flashes doom and financial crises cloud the coffee-shop conversations, I gaze beyond what I can hold and celebrate along with Helen Keller:

The Best and most Beautiful things in the World
Cannot be seen or even touched,
They must be felt with the Heart.

~~ Helen Keller ~~

My heart grows each time I close my eyes and imagine . . .

A neighbor loving a neighbor . . . really
A treasure chest . . . brimming with faith, hope, charity
A life devoted to peace . . . true peace . . . quiet, lasting contentment

A viewpoint without gain . . . only gift
A prayer to last a lifetime . . . and beyond
A contented meal of daily bread . . . fearless of tomorrow’s hunger


A Utopian at heart, I seek the beauty and joy and potential therein of a sun’s journey from dawn to dusk . . . and beyond. The noun “Potential” contains possibility, but the adjective contains power:

Potential – n. Anything that may be possible.

Potential – adj.

1) Having power to impress on us

the ideas of certain qualities, though

the qualities are not inherent in the thing;

2) Efficacious, powerful. (not in use.)

From Webster’s Dictionary 1828

What? Definition #2 for adjective goes unused? WHY? I think we should take back the definition of potential and all its power.

Imagine a cake . . . freshly baked -- tasty with a cup of tea. Now spread a bit of frosting o’er top and my whole perspective changes. I always see frosting as a signal to celebrate, even though butter, sugar, and a hint of tint do not inherently produce a celebration. Just take a simple cake and add the adjective frosted and you get a frosted cake, which leads me to smile and think joyful party thoughts!

So, I see that today has the potential to be more than just a day of pondering the weather or the next meal. With a bit of sweet icing or pudding or . . . it can be a celebration. What shall we celebrate? How about our potential to efficaciously and powerfully spread intangible gifts? Close your eyes, open your heart, and give . . .

Imagine the possibilities . . .

* * *

Every good gift

And every perfect gift

Is from above,

And cometh down

From the Father of lights,

With whom is no variableness,

Neither shadow of turning.

James 1:17

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*Flower bud pictured atop from my Magnolia x soulangeana bush, sporting the potential to explode in beauty and powerful fragrance come warmer weather.