Unplugged

It may be obvious that I am not participating in the great internet blackout today, but we had a little moment of our own at Zen Center this morning: right before work meeting started, I noticed first that I couldn't start up the ino's computer, and then that the lights were all out. I haven't heard yet what happened - and the power was back on within the hour - but when work meeting was over, I noticed how relaxed I felt not to be logging in and starting to deal with emails. Instead I went down to the basement, navigating by the emergency lights, distributed some new zafus and zabutons, and tidied up the candles in the chiden area, the kind of thing I usually feel I don't have time to get to. It felt great, especially for a Wednesday when I am usually trying to get a handful of things done before staff meeting begins. Perhaps I should start every work day like that...

The emergency lighting illuminated the drum very dramatically