Pilgrimage Statistics
Consecutive Days Riding: 79 Consecutive Days Blogging: 80
Today’s Mileage: 6 Total Trip Mileage: 667
I don’t know what it is today but I find it difficult to do anything but simple tasks. Ride the bike, build a fire and take a nap. Perhaps the fact that we are only three days away from a new year, the ending of one cycle and the beginning of a new weights on me. Perhaps like old man time I am feeling the effects of an eventful year. Perhaps the fact that in nine days I will be sending my oldest son, a young man of eighteen, off to the military and very likely war weights on me. Perhaps the fact that I spent part of the morning speaking to a youth concerned for a friend’s life or death struggles and I could, even with all my training, offer little advice or direction. Perhaps I need to let myself just experience, just feel, “just be” in the moment.
As I searched on Christmas Eve for family photos I came across a piece I wrote a number of years ago. Perhaps now is a good time to share it:
Just Is
The sage’s measured pace came to a halt
He bent slowly at the waist
Till his fingers touched the flower petals
Softly so as to not disturb
The blossom’s beauty
He smiled
And stood erect
His eyes moved skyward
Towards the haphazard pattern of blue sky
Silhouetted by the dark pine branches
Drawing a deep breath
He moved slowly forward
As if each step
Was measured and noted
Drawing of a young teen!
The young girl
An early teen
Stood watching the sage
She turned towards the approaching stranger
He bore a puzzled look and asked
“Is that the sage I hear so much about?”
“Yap!” The girl exclaimed with a smile.
The stranger stared for a long moment
As the sage’s movement stopped
As he studied something at his feet
Among the clutter of dried oak leaves
Pine needles and human trash
“What is he doing?”
“Probably nothing!” stated the girl with a quizzical look.
“Where is he going?”
“Probably nowhere!” she noted.
The sage raised his head
As he gazed off
At the horizon
At the wall of trees
And flowering azalea bushes
“What is he like,” asked the stranger?
The young girl looked puzzled
And then smiled
As if she suddenly realized
She knew a secret
“He just is!”
She giggled and bolted forward
Reaching the sage
She circled about him with a laugh
Took his hand and skipped
As they continued down the path
The stranger watched for a long moment
Before he checked his watch
And moved towards the parking lot
Towards his plans, his schedules
His responsibilities, his meaningful life!
****
I hope you enjoyed todays posting, a break from the usual fare. Tomorrow we return to the journey as we near several new pilgrimage sites!
Sending a son off to the military and perhaps war is Christmas from a Father’s perspective.
I have two sons, and oh, it would weight on me too, to send either.
Even though your belief may not go there, may he be kept in God’s care.
Thank you Adisa! It does weight on me, I will do a blog on the topic the day he leave Jan. 5th. I pray that your God and mine will watch over him.
This was a very sleepy day for me as well.