"Appreciation of life itself, becoming suddenly aware of the miracle of being alive on this planet, can turn what we call ordinary life into a miracle. We come awake to such a realization when we recognize our connection to a spiritual dimension."

- Dan Wakefield

I am just now coming out of a weeklong physical challenge dealing with a nasty little virus that snuck up on me and whacked me upside the head.

The most startling part about this for me was I never, ever, get sick. So, for the better part of five days I busied my mind, going on a self-imposed guilt trip down the river of denial, avoiding the precious moment at hand by seeking the cryptic cause of this negative experience.

"Why did this happen to me?" "I can't believe someone passed this miserable bug on to me."

And, if you are really into beating yourself up metaphysically: "What was in my thinking to create this horrible experience?"

No doubt, it's a pointless exercise in feeling rotten about feeling rotten, but it seems that on special occasions we all have the tendency to get out the hammer and start pounding. Fortunately, a minister friend called me and pulled me out of that nosedive with a dose of positive prayer.

As I was reminded of God's ever presence in my life as perfect health my mind began to focus on something a bit more productive, and in the process of evicting this visiting virus, I consciously invited it to be my master teacher of the moment.

However, the lesson I sought was not about what I did to create such an experience, but rather what I missed out on in my life while I was busy feeling rotten about feeling rotten.

Here was my awareness: As I sat down this morning to write about these thoughts, I noticed a large vase full of beautiful roses sitting right there next to my computer monitor. My wife, Diane, has a talent for growing flowers, and I thought this was a lovely gift, her way of beautifying my office after a week of me hacking, drooling, spitting and coughing all over the place.

Well, I went to thank her for her thoughtfulness and told her they would really brighten up my day.

She looked at me, paused, and smiled curiously, saying, "I put those roses there, four days ago, honey."

Four days ago!

Now, that wouldn't be such a bad thing had I not been sitting at my computer off and on for all those days doing much of my usual business. Granted, I was a little less focused than normal, but nonetheless, there they were- glorious roses, in full bloom, right in front of my nose.

Had I not been so busy feeling rotten about feeling rotten perhaps I might have seen the roses earlier and thus enjoyed them even more.

Life is like that, isn't it? We can have the most glorious and beautiful gifts stuck right under our noses every day, but if we become preoccupied with the challenges that life is guaranteed to present to us, we never see the gift that lies in the moment at hand.

In truth, we don't need to be stricken with a virus or other more serious maladies to be oblivious to the gifts of the moment, do we? Do you ever get to "feeling badly that things seem to be going badly" in some area of your life? Do you ever get so caught up in the minutiae of the experience or the drama of what's unfolding that you lose sight of the gifts that life is also laying at your feet in every holy instant?

If you do, stop and think about my roses. The gift was made long before I was ready to enjoy it- and what a waste of that beauty.

The beautiful gifts that life brings us every day are beyond measure, but we have to be willing to be present enough in the moment at hand to see them.

What gift has been laid at your feet today? Perhaps now would be a great time to stop, look down and appreciate it, because as with my roses, it may not be there forever.

Appreciate the gifts that life brings you in every moment- you deserve them.