Eden’s Garden

I love days like today. When you sleep in too late because the sun isn’t there to wake you up.

It’s not raining, but the blue of the sky is completely blotted out by clouds. All the colors seem to be more vibrant, although you’d think they would be somewhat dull because of a lack of sunlight. The grass and flowers, even the bark of the trees, look more dynamic. Like when you repaint something the same color, and it doesn’t change it just looks different.

Today looks fresh.

I walked outside and smelled the air, and was immediately filled with memories of my childhood when I was a kid stuck inside, anxious to get my hands on the newly formed mud. I anticipated going outside back then, and considered the storm beautiful and frightening, but only an obstacle keeping me from doing what I really loved, which was to play outside. I spent so many days like this outside on grand adventures with the bugs and trees as my only companions, the drainage way in our back yard as a mighty river that we had to cross to get away from the bad guys chasing us. No matter what story I had made up in my head there was always a “bad guy” a great obstacle to overcome and I would always step in as the heroine.

I like days like today.

Days where you wake up and suddenly the “storm” you’d feared so much and seemed so permanent, has passed. During it you were scared. You doubted that you’d make it out ok, but now it is gone and yes it changed many things, but the more you look at it, it’s like the storm soaked everything in a new coat of awe and wonder, a freshness that is enticing.

I don’t necessarily know that I could pinpoint why exactly things go wrong, but there is something about making it through something you didn’t think you would, that changes your perspective. Those storms that keep us from doing what we love are so hard on our hearts, and I’m beginning to think that maybe the best way of looking at it is the same as when you were a kid.

The storm is not permanent, and at some point it will pass and I will be able to go outside and play again.

I don’t necessarily feel like I’m going through anything difficult right now that’s obstructing me from living fully, but in those times when I was, when It just wasn’t safe, i was to frail my heart was to weak to fully participate and engage, I wish I would have seen the storm as temporary. That the times we’re simply stuck inside, will pass and they will become just another chapter in the story of our life, that make us into who we are, but do not define us.

Many of us want great stories, where we are part of the group of hero’s, and we overcome great obstacles cross mighty rivers of fear, conquer the beasts of injustice, reach the peak of discover, end the disease of greed, restore balance ending poverty, cross the valley of racism, bridge the gap formed by religions, and repair whats been so broken.

Sometimes life throws storms at us.

I can’t forget about the story I’m part of when the storm comes, it will pass, and there’s so much still to do.