Marilyn: As I sit here in my meditation room breathing into the present moment, meditating, reading, and contemplating the next few days, I feel a little stressed. The sun is just coming up over the house across the street. Much to my amazement, a great blue heron slowly emerges. Its 6-foot wingspan floats up to the roof, barely moving the air, and lands on the house, standing between me and my view of the lake.

I have lived here for three years and have never seen such a sight. I know it must be significant. The master of the lake — the heron — now rests on the roof, gazing about from its high perch. Maybe it is meditating or watching the morning sun awaken.