The Favorite Chair

     You are probably familiar with the terms, "everyday sacred" and "be here now." That is what the favorite chair is about. Many homes have a favorite chair - where the home dweller sits with a cup of coffee in the morning, to read a devotional and contemplate plans for the day. Then to sit with a cup of tea in the afternoon, to relax and focus on "being in the now." In the evening, with a glass of wine, to share our thoughts with a loved one - who wasn't so fortunate to get the favorite chair for our conversation! 

    Several years ago we replaced an old wing chair with this much more comfortable polka-dot recliner. I chose this upholstery because I was ready to add some pizazz to our old-fashioned country decor. It immediately became the favorite chair for everyone in the family and every visitor to our home. 

    Back when the chair was new, our daughter and her family lived with us for a few months while they were in transition. Our grandson, who is on the autism spectrum, was three years old at the time. He loved to sit in the polka-dot chair. When his other grandparents came to visit, his paternal grandfather sat in the recliner. Our nonverbal grandson took his grandfather by the hand and led him away from the chair. Grandpa thought that he was being taken to a place of interest, so he followed. But as soon as Grandpa had been led out of the living room our clever little boy ran back and climbed into the chair. 

    Of course we brought the favorite chair with us when we moved from New York to Wisconsin - to be closer to this clever little boy and his precious sister. I think of the chair as a sacred spot because it is so well-loved. Because Mark sits there every morning to transfer his deepest thoughts onto paper. Because I sit there to read the books that connect me to the inner world of spirit and imagination. Because it offers comfort and rest whenever we need it. And if you come to visit, we will let you sit there, too!