I woke up this morning to the sound of my neighbour hammering a nail into the wall.  He sometimes hangs new pictures.

Why so early in the morning?

Except a glance at my watch told me the story: 9:47.  I had been in bed for over 10 hours and my Polar app said my “Actual Sleep” was 9 hours and 28 minutes.  O my God!

And my dreams: Are they Covid-induced or is this my actual sleeping mind churning out images?

***

I was watching a men’s cycling race.  All the riders were together, really giving ‘er, the colours of their jerseys an abstract painting.

One sweating man wearing a white jersey was missing an arm.  He was pedalling furiously with just one hand to steady the bike.  How is he doing this?

***

It was an old guy, facing left.  He was deeply tanned and deeply lined in the face.  Unshaven.  Flowing grey hair covering his neck.

And he wore a transparent helmet that extended way beyond his nose.  His eyes, barely seen, said he was at peace.

***

Something big to my left smashed into the wall of my bedroom.  Then there was a hole, the size of a dinner plate.  It was full of stars.

The empty space disappeared, replaced by the orange and black of a tiger’s face, trying to get in.

He squeezed through, with those shining eyes looming closer.  He opened his mouth and latched onto my left arm by the elbow.  But there were no teeth – he was gumming me.

The eyes were fierce, and I could feel the next moment coming, when the flesh would leave the bones …

***

Okay.  Enough of that.

Even though my head’s been pretty spinny today, I decided to meditate.  My history has been that when I’m sick, meditation doesn’t work.  But I gave it a shot.

I’ve meditated for a long time.  For the past few years, by the grace of whatever Spirit is, I’ve usually been able to reach a point of stillness in 15 to 20 minutes.  Not always but mostly.  Before then is a period of inner vibration, some sort of pulsing.  Then eventually it’s gone … and the surface of the lake is glass.  Not a touch of wind.

This afternoon the calm seemed to come very early.  I glanced at my watch: 9 minutes.  So unexpected, so miraculous.

Such a mystery, this Covid.  My night was full of fanciful stories.  My body is weak.  My head is woozy.  But somehow, when I sit in my meditation chair …

All is calm.  All is bright