Richer

On the drive to work this morning, I played O Magnum Mysterium, a responsorial chant from the Matins of Christmas, over a terrific Bang & Olufsen sound system. These lyrics, in a setting composed by Morten Lauridsen, celebrate the birth of Christ, translated to English as:

"O great mystery,

And wonderful sacrament,

That animals should see the new-born Lord

Lying in a manger.

Blessed is the Virgin

Whose womb was worthy

To bear Christ the Lord.

Alleluia!"

I first stumbled upon Lauridsen -- and thus upon O Magnum Mysterium at all -- by virtue of an article in (of all places) the Wall Street Journal. The author of the article lauded the simplicity and beauty of the piece. And once I heard it, I agreed.

So I was driving to work on a Monday, following a weekend of an unexpected 7-inch snowfall, listening to this musical gem, when I turned onto the George Washington Parkway. The GW Parkway is stunningly beautiful at certain parts of the year, and the day following a snowfall is one of those parts of the year. Put the two together -- Lauridsen and a snowy Parkway -- and there, for a brief moment, I was overwhelmed with the wonder of this world.

I then began to contemplate the many people and things in my life that together make my life richer -- i.e., abundant, full, resonant, and even complete. If I were just me, it would not be so. Today, when I thought of the elements that combine to make life abundant and full, I was amazed to think of it:

I love the barn and the horses on the way to the Parkway because Kiersten so loved horses.

I enjoy hearing bass guitarists perform because Zach plays nearly every night.

I experienced the green beauty of Ireland because Jonathan wanted to go.

I laugh every time I think about Drew jumping up and down on the jumbotron during foul shots.

I love the joie de vivre that children display without once thinking about it.

I've grown to appreciate musicals, from the White Christmas form to the Les Miserables form, because Linda enjoys them so much.

I love competition because I had the unusual (I didn't realize it was unusual at the time) opportunity to play so many different team sports competitively while growing up.

I first became an accountant because my mother trained me to "keep books" from an early age. Mom trained my younger sister, too!

I learned to play a great game -- golf -- because my dad took me with him to play.

I love baseball because the Braves moved to Atlanta when I was only 3 years old and Hank Aaron was pursuing Babe Ruth's record.

I've enjoyed greatly my time at my firm because the team members are my friends, and they do superlative work.

And I could keep going and going and going.

There are moments when I don't know who I am. I suppose everyone has moments like that. But then there are moments when I love all that I've been given, and I love what all these people and things have made me.

I am richer because of all of these influences. And oh so many more.