Pausing

Hobart pauses.  He gets into the car, puts the key in the lock, puts his hands on the wheel and pauses.  He sits down at the table and looks at his food.  He pauses.  He makes his cup of coffee every morning, grinding the beans, heating the water, putting it all in the French press, waiting, pouring it slowly into his favorite cup, carrying it carefully to his recliner in the living room where he sits down, looks at the cup of coffee.......and pauses.  

I asked him about his habit of pausing.  He doesn't recall when or why it started.  It's just a habit.  It's just Hobart.  I love it.  It reveals so much about him--the deliberate way he lives his life, his attention to detail, his refusal to hurry through a chore, a store, an activity or a thoughtful expression.  I have been to church with Hobart five times. Four out of the five times, we were the last ones out of the building.  He takes his time in a world that is scurrying to get there faster in order to do more in less time.  

His habit of pausing is his unique way to experience the moment.  What an incredible gift!  And I am learning.  It never occurred to me to pause and study the cookie before biting into it like Hobart does. I've watched him observe people walking by and he is paying close attention to learn something about them from the way they are moving. During the ballet he commented quietly about the piccolo he was hearing. What I have always known but now can observe in Hobart is that moments are precious and all I have to do to find one is to pause.  
  

Hobart, pausing with his morning cookie

Hobart, pausing in the closet

Hobart, pausing to look at the mountains

Hobart, pausing to watch the sunset