~ The Journey ~ As Seen Thru My Own Eyes

The rest that I find here in this cove is such a welcome change to the strain of recent events.  The peacefulness of this place is like none I have ever experienced.  I feel the healing warmth of the sun as it is filtered thru the leaves of the tree above me.  I can hear the hypnotic sounds of  flowing water near by.  The songbird is still singing.  It is a nice compliment to the sounds of the stream.  I open my eyes and see a beautiful clear blue sky.  There is no more fog.  I sit up and look around me.  The grass here is so very green.  There are wild flowers scattered about.  Out of the corner of my eye, I catch a glimpse of a butterfly as it kisses one of the flowers.  I think of my little dancing bloom and wonder where it might be.  I imagine it fluttering over a field of flowers somewhere;  dipping down to gracefully kiss each bloom as only a butterfly can do.  I become lost in the beauty of my thoughts until I am suddenly brought back to reality by a loud rumble somewhere in the trees behind me.  Startled, I instinctively huddle close to the base of the shade tree.  What could be making such a noise?  It seems so out of place here in this peaceful cove.

I am afraid to look into the woods behind me.  I feel the earth shake as the rumbling continues.  Fear rises up from deep within.  Without warning, something crashes into the shade tree and with a very hard jolt I am thrown into the air.  In an instant I find myself face down on the ground several feet from where I was hiding.  Shaking, in pain and very frightened, I slowly raise my head.  There beside me are several large rocks.  I look toward the woods and see fallen trees and rocks everywhere.  The avalanche has cut a deep path from the side of the mountain straight thru the woods to the middle of the cove.  I lie motionless for what seems like an eternity as I try to absorb all that has just happened.  What caused the mountain to turn loose of the rocks so suddenly?  I feel as though the whole world has come crashing down on my beautiful cove.  Sadness begins to rise and replaces the fear I felt earlier.  A flood of tears is not far behind.  Night is beginning to fall and with it comes a darkness that is all too familiar.  I curl up on the ground in a fetal position.  I thought I had left the darkness behind.  It doesn’t belong here in my safe place.  Tears begin to roll down my cheeks.  I close my eyes and with everything within me, I wish the darkness away. 

The morning falls gently on the cove and I slowly begin to stir.  I feel the sun shining warmly on my face as it dries the last of the tears from the night before.  I remember the darkness and I am surprised that it left me so quickly.  There is pain as  I attempt to stand,  but it isn’t has bad as I thought it would be.  I rise to my feet and look toward the mountain.  The scars left behind by the avalanche are such a contrast to the beauty of the cove.  I don’t understand why it had to happen, but I am so grateful that I made it thru safely.  I turn and make my way over to the stream.  It seems totally undisturbed by the upheaval that has taken place.  I watch as the water glistens in the sunlight.  A soft breeze begins to blow.  The peace that I felt when I first saw the cove is returning.  This has truly been a healing place for me.  I am much stronger now.  I know that I must move on.  I hesitate to leave this amazing place because I feel so at home here.  But it is time.  I take one last look around and with a sigh, I begin to walk.

~ D ~

Copyright 2009 – Denise Gilreath ©