Poet William Blake once wrote: “And we are put on earth a little space, That we may learn to bear the beams of love.” It may initially seem like an odd concept but trust me it rings true when you miss the folks you love. You see, last weekend I got the chance to visit home, if only for a short while, as our family works through some challenging times. Now that I live even further away, our time together seems all the more precious and sparse! Yesterday, after a week of crazy-busy work, I awoke to a quiet apartment, realizing that just one week ago I was surrounded by the folks I hold most dear, and who love me no matter what. Stories were shared. Bread, broken. Smiles, laughter and tears interchangeable. Tangible. Yet these “beams of love” that pierce our hearts when we are near enough for a hug, luckily find us just as easily when we are far away. I felt these beams yesterday as I chased some stray beams of sunshine to one of my favourite haunts in my new BC home, Deep Cove.

The weatherman had predicted a wet and cool day, perfect for staying in one’s pyjamas all day with a good book (mine is currently A Triumph of Genius: Edwin Land, Polaroid, and the Kodak Patent War…I bought it because of the cover. Edwin Land with his Cary Grant good looks bathed in sepia light, sitting in an Eames chair, about to address a crowd about the magic of photography…hopefully the book is as compelling as its cover!) but shortly before noon pregnant rain clouds gave way to shards of stray blue sky and beams of sunshine. I hopped in my car and headed the short distance to Deep Cove where the sea meets the sky meets the mountains in a perfect mixture of natural wonder. I could easily live in this cozy town nestled in the North Shore mountains in North Vancouver. On this day a tiny shop once visited in a rain storm, called me back: Sunnyside Tea and Home Goods. This charming shop is a delight for the senses. Water-toned ceramics mix with crisp linens, fresh soaps, warm, fragrant tea and candles that smell like the sea. On my last visit I had picked up a small candle called “Cove Rain” that kept its promise by brightening my wee apartment with the scent of pure rain. I should have purchased ten! So yesterday I went back for more and found myself hiking the town, its bright waterfront, and its busy marina. You can find more photos from my adventure, like the one above, here.

Even as I enjoyed my short but lovely Deep Cove adventure, I did find myself thinking of and yearning for home. Unasked for tears cropped up at unexpected moments. Perhaps it will always be like this? Bittersweet. Grateful for times shared AND new adventures. This is not loneliness or sadness but reverence I think. And patience… as I learn to bear my beams of love.

I’d like to thank my dear friend Alex who shared a touching piece by author Anne Lamott that hit home in this week of missing my family. In fact, three such inspiring pieces found me on this weekend and if you find yourself struggling to figure things out, as we so often do as human creatures, these pieces will most surely help:

Anne Lamott Shares What She Knows: Everyone is Screwed Up, Broken, Clingy and Scared

What Hope Really Means: A Beautiful Meditation on How We Learn to Stand At the Gates of Hope in Troubled Times

David Brooks: The Moral Bucket List