I sat outside to meditate this morning, in the garden to listen to the rustle of the bamboo. Several minutes in I realized I was sitting just off the critter trail. As I sat I could hear rustling and walking and slithering a few feet away from me. I went in and out of the consciousness of it as I would refocus on my breathing at each sound. It was a reminder that our essential Self maintains a centered, quiet and gentle place inside despite the physical activity that goes on around us. We can step into that centered, quiet and gentle place any time we choose.