A blue canvas encompasses the Earth.
The sun a crayon for the ages
Casting yellows, reds, pinks, and oranges
Across the sky.
Birds flying over the page
Leaving their mark on the eye.
Preparation for a new birth.
The sun a crayon for the ages
Casting yellows, reds, pinks, and oranges
Across the sky.
Birds flying over the page
Leaving their mark on the eye.
Preparation for a new birth.
Two days ago the weather was beautiful – a bit chilly but refreshing. I just couldn’t stay cooped up inside on such a beautiful evening, so I decided that it was the perfect time to stop everything and go sit in my spot.
As I sat there, I saw the hickory tree in my yard that was right in front of me on the swing starting to sprout buds where the leaves are trying to make themselves known again. I saw the bright, vibrant, green grass peeking out from underneath the brown, dull leaves of fall and winter beneath my feet. In the front yard, across the street, I saw the remains of the farmer’s harvest glowing in the evening sun.
Suddenly, sitting by passively watching nature wasn’t enough for me. I had to get up and interact with it. Maybe it was my body’s way of saying, “Hey, give me a little exercise,” or maybe it was the Indian teachings of last week’s readings about connecting with nature in a personal way. Who knows, but just sitting in my spot wasn’t enough.
What I ended up doing was starting out on a two mile walk around my country block. Along my walk I saw a wood duck and a mallard swimming in a small, small pond down the road from my house. When they finally saw me, we engaged in a staring contest that they won of course, so I continued on my walk.
After I had travelled about a mile I found myself surrounded by trees on both sides of the road. I used to know these woods as well as my own back hand. We had made numerous paths in them as children. I noticed that there was a new path in them that I had never seen before. It looked like someone’s dirt bike or quad trail, and I decided I was going to go and check it out. I must have walked in circles following this path. Up slight hills, steep hills, circling around trees and bushes, and just wandering about through the forest.
Then I saw an end in sight. The path brought me out to a farmer’s field that was directly behind my house, past the trees. The only difference is that I was higher up in the field. The sight standing before me was amazing. I saw clear blue skies, golden fields, domineering mountains, and the colors of spring finally wiping out the dullness of winter. It was breath taking and well worth the extra two miles out of my way! I just stood there looking around for about twenty minutes amazed at the beauty before me.
When I was done and realized that I needed to head back home before it got dark, I took a mental picture with my mind. I also felt much more relaxed, free, uninhibited, and calm. This sight helped to put my life back into perspective. I wish everyone had the opportunity to feel completely in touch with their surroundings. Maybe our lives would seem less stressful.
As I sat there, I saw the hickory tree in my yard that was right in front of me on the swing starting to sprout buds where the leaves are trying to make themselves known again. I saw the bright, vibrant, green grass peeking out from underneath the brown, dull leaves of fall and winter beneath my feet. In the front yard, across the street, I saw the remains of the farmer’s harvest glowing in the evening sun.
Suddenly, sitting by passively watching nature wasn’t enough for me. I had to get up and interact with it. Maybe it was my body’s way of saying, “Hey, give me a little exercise,” or maybe it was the Indian teachings of last week’s readings about connecting with nature in a personal way. Who knows, but just sitting in my spot wasn’t enough.
What I ended up doing was starting out on a two mile walk around my country block. Along my walk I saw a wood duck and a mallard swimming in a small, small pond down the road from my house. When they finally saw me, we engaged in a staring contest that they won of course, so I continued on my walk.
After I had travelled about a mile I found myself surrounded by trees on both sides of the road. I used to know these woods as well as my own back hand. We had made numerous paths in them as children. I noticed that there was a new path in them that I had never seen before. It looked like someone’s dirt bike or quad trail, and I decided I was going to go and check it out. I must have walked in circles following this path. Up slight hills, steep hills, circling around trees and bushes, and just wandering about through the forest.
Then I saw an end in sight. The path brought me out to a farmer’s field that was directly behind my house, past the trees. The only difference is that I was higher up in the field. The sight standing before me was amazing. I saw clear blue skies, golden fields, domineering mountains, and the colors of spring finally wiping out the dullness of winter. It was breath taking and well worth the extra two miles out of my way! I just stood there looking around for about twenty minutes amazed at the beauty before me.
When I was done and realized that I needed to head back home before it got dark, I took a mental picture with my mind. I also felt much more relaxed, free, uninhibited, and calm. This sight helped to put my life back into perspective. I wish everyone had the opportunity to feel completely in touch with their surroundings. Maybe our lives would seem less stressful.
As I wrote in an earlier comment, many of us need to be attuned to our surroundings, like you were that day, to be able to feel what nature has to offer. And I'm not sure how many are willing, or able, to do that, surrender themselves almost.
ReplyDelete