Thursday, March 14, 2013

Walk With Me


Stretched across the lawn at the top of the first little hill
I find shadows
thrown gently across the lawn.
Early evening sun and an iron gate. 
The simplicity touches me.


The first glimpse of the pond at the  bottom of the hill
tells the story of the season.
Light, water, ice.
Warmth and chill playing tug of war.


And I wonder, as I walk and ponder the season's transition,
what is pulling at me?
I pray for new-borns and families that are dear to me.
I pray for friends who have suffered great loss this week.
Some of us striving to hold on,
others struggling to let go.
Today, witnessing the earth's tug of war.
I find surrender....
'To every thing there is a season and a time for every purpose under heaven.'


The wooded paths stretch out before me
and the sun plays with every leaf, every branch.
It's along this part of the path that I see a little boy let go of his mom's hand
and begin to toddle towards me.
"Daddy! Daddy!" he shouts as he scoots past me and jumps into his dad's arms.
For just a few short seconds I'm allowed to share in this - his pure joy.


Around the next bend, the brush clears and the path cuts across the pond.
The water is very high right now, 
rippling boisterously towards the edge of both sides of my path.
Turning to face the sun,
it's the wind that hits my face.
Not the light or the warmth,
but a blustery, chilly wind.
I stand very still for several minutes and just let it all wash over me.


Just to my right?
A delicious, sun kissed birch.


And right above me?
BUDS!
Feathery, small, reddish buds that weren't there two days ago.
Each tree with a story to tell.
Each tree responding to the sun's warmth in it's own time.
'Adopt the pace of nature. Her secret is patience.'
Emerson


As I turn for one last look at the sun setting over the water
I see a hawk hovering in the sky
focused intently on the something in the waters below.
While I'm watching him (her?)
my brother calls. 
It's his birthday, and we both wish we were hanging out together today.
But he's in the Hawaiian surf, and I'm walking the pond.
Later on,
when I texted him this photo to show him what I was looking at when he called,
he texted back,
"Kind of nice to think that it's the same sun."

I left work dragging my feet.
I left the pond renewed.


Linking up with
rejuvenate1a


8 comments:

  1. So pretty! I just love your walks. I could tag along and would so enjoy it :)

    ~Tabitha

    ReplyDelete
  2. These are so amazing. I can feel the warmth coming through those rays of sunshine. Can you send some my way?

    ReplyDelete
  3. Your walks truly do restore the soul. You moved me to say a prayer for those you are thinking of ...new lives, loss, your brother on his birthday. May they all feel God's presence.

    ReplyDelete
  4. the same sun, the same sky, it's magical!!

    the seasons are playing tug of war. i hope spring wins!!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Oh my - you have such a way with words... so wonderful.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Lovely! And such a pretty ode to the end of winter and coming of spring - life's full cycle, all in one.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I love the picture you created with your words about the tug of war between winter and spring, because today? It is snowing. But yesterday? I pulled out my sandals and put up my winter jacket for my spring one. Spring WILL come. Also, that simple sentence response from your brother? Absolutely beautiful. I want to take a walk with you in real life. :)

    ReplyDelete