THE MORNING SCENE

Alpine,AL

THE MORNING SCENE

While admiring the lacy look of the trees in this morning's scene,  I am contemplating an artist exercise...to see not the shape itself but the spaces in-between.  Suddenly, Nature takes this opportunity to  reintroduce me to the void.  It is no more welcome a meeting today then when I first made its acquaintance as a young child.  The surprising thing is how I dodged this acknowledgement for so many years.  Sitting quietly, memories tumble over each other, elbowing to be first in line.  They parade before me all of the inventions I have created...all  to  keep from  acknowledging a fear that has walked apace with me my whole life.  Perhaps the primal fear...at least for me...to find myself alone, with no defenses, support, tools with which to change what is or distractions to help me ignore this state.  What I fear in that void I could give many names...death, senility, sickness, loneliness or any other specter that looms large, always waiting just 'round the corner.  Now, I finally see whatever happens just IS and is dealt with...the void is not to blame.   It is the hulking presence of the fear of it that causes all of the twisted, cramped, distorted reactions that go on for years... until the fear is seen and accepted as just a creation of my own thoughts.  Seen as my own creation, I can now decide how much power I wish to give my fear.   Nature reminds me as I turn to go that life's picture is never complete without the trees AND the void in-between...and bids me to choose wisely.

A LESSON FROM THE LEAVES

Alpine, Al

My morning window reveals some of the last leaves of summer on branches bare of most of their companions.  Their hold, no longer firm with resolve...looks tenuous...do they fear the floating, free fall to earth?  I think not...frail, yes, tattered, certainly but suspended 'tween heaven and earth they approach this day as they have all the rest.  How is that...has their notion of "future" shortened with the daylight...are they merely waiting for the nudge that sends them floating?  Again, I think not...I imagine that they spend their currency for this day as they have all the days before...they choose to meet what nature has in store with the best they have to give.  I hear them whisper,  "I have a choice and so, for yet another day... I offer up my heart."