For years I have trained my eyes to detect heart-shaped things…leaves, puddles, watermarks, tea leaves, tree bark, and stones. Especially stones. Once my mind was on task, a heart-shaped something could stop me in my tracks, giving me a warm feeling inside and a smile on my lips. In that moment I felt seen by the universe, by nature…I felt loved. 

So I started collecting them, rocks shaped like hearts. I had boxes of them. Seems there is no shortage of love in this troubled world if you know where to look. And I started giving them to people, random strangers even in a grocery store checkout line, hoping to lift their heart, as mine has been all these years. 

Rocks shaped like hearts in particular are especially precious and unique. Even a “heart” like the one I am sharing here, smaller than a penny, may have started out as a great boulder. It takes time, and sometimes great adversity, the shedding of dross, breaking, being crushed, becoming smaller, to attain the perfection of heart-ness. Perhaps that is why the simple gesture of finding or receiving a heart-shaped rock resonates with us. Those of us who have lived through hardship and adversity know the process well. A tiny rock is a reminder that even after all this there is beautiful meaningfulness and value in the familiar shaped shards left behind. Reminding us too, that even in our own brokenness we have value and the capacity to be a light for others. 

I think it’s time for me to start collecting again. To carry a few nuggets of hope in my pocket, so that I can part with them when the time is right. Especially now when so many of us feel powerless and invisible. It’s the least I can do after these little gems have done so much work to be noticed. 

light beings

each soul has value
the capacity to hope
to glow with a light
that glimmers through brokenness 
to extinguish the darkness

Much Love, peace and heart-shaped glimmers to you! 

~kat