Ana, stood there, as she did numerous times a day doing the dishes. Funny how the dishes of one female and one male cat can stack up. (Well, kitty does eat every few hours and she is well trained.) Of all the windows in her house, the one she gets to look out of the most is this particular one. Between dishes and cooking and baking and canning and who knows what else, it's not like she has a choice but if she did, it would still be the one. This is why she bought the house, sight unseen, a photo of a garden window that she could fill with all kinds of seedling for her big yard. Too early yet. But, not to see her peach tree that no neighbor believed would survive in such a cold place, but she knew it would because she loved it and sometimes loves was all it took. Just ask kitty.

Darren walked a step further towards the front of the line and the anticipation inside was eating him alive. What a great opportunity he had been afforded on one hand and yet how could one possibly choose given the choice. As the line moved farther along he now could see the options before him.
There were three separate windows here in the so called Hall of Remembrance. Above each was a large stylishly written sign with one word. They were arranged in order chronologically: Past, Present, and Future. As his spot was coming up soon Darren began to think which he way he would go.
Whichever he picked he would have up to six standard months to look and gather as much information as he wanted. It costs nothing and the reward or consequence that resulted from each viewing was completely natural. If good things were seen and sought them good results could come from it. Some it had been said however had come to view their lives through a certain window and had come away shells of their former selves.
“Next,” the tall robed person who no one was allowed to actually see said to the man directly in front of him. It was time to choose and Darren had some thinking to do.
Past. Jeannie and the baby were subjects it still hurt to think about. Part of him wanted to cheer his efforts to move forward in spite of what happened while part wanted to spend six months reliving it as penance for such horrid actions and choices. How could he look to the past though and expect good things through it.
Present seemed a no brainer for he no’s. He knew what was going on now didn’t he? Some it had been reported had come away from the present window and been forever changed for the better. Paths righted, bad decisions repented from, should he consider it?
Future, now there was a great option. He could move on from the stupid mistakes that his gambling debts had turned out to be. Jeannie would never have to get so angry that night and make him so angry in return. In the future he could see how well he was going to survive and if he was really going to get away with what he had done to his own wife and what that had done to his child. It was the only clear choice.
Having heard his name he stepped into the future window and peered tightly into it. What he saw shocked him to his core.
He was standing with a weapon in his hand pointed at the scared yet steely expression on Jeannie’s face. No! He pulled away from the window and turned to see himself in an office with four metal looking walls and a guard. He stammered, “This is supposed to be the window looking into the future!” The guard looked at him, “Sir you are still serving your sentence. The first six months you were charged with having to relive your crime over again. You’re only half way through your time. Face to the window.”
Darren was too shocked to resist as he was shoved back to the cyber window. What had he done?

As I look out the window, dreaming of all the far away places I'd like to visit, I envision a South Sea island with sand that sparkeles like minute diamonds. I'm sitting in the shade of palm trees whose lavish leaves fan me as the humming breeze moves them, and I contentedly slumber to the rhythm of the waves that ripple to the shore. But then, maybe a forest would be nice, where stalwart trees rise to the sky,and where an array of shrubs and plants decorate the land. Alll this delights my eyes, as I am serenaded by the sound of crickets and frogs.
No, no, I want it all. I want to have the sun of the islands and the shade of the forests. I want to rise above the clouds, float around without a care in the world. Well, here I am, I do see it all and the beauty is indescribable. It's peaceful, clear and...wait. I see a hand extended toward me. Who is it? Oh, I just see a hand. It's beckoning to me. Inviting me to stay. No, no. I know Who You are, but I'm not ready to go. The Hound of Heaven is calling me, and I, like St. Augustine, say,"Not yet, Lord. Not yet."
I shake myself back to reality, ashamed that I did not accept the invitation, for isn't it what we all long for? A world of infinite beauty and peace? Someday, Lord, but not yet, not just yet.

Interesting. Makes me wonder what it would be like to have a window on my life where I can observe for a while. I sometimes wonder what I missed.