Excerpts from a recent note to my penpal, Eileen…..
As I pause in writing you this note I look over at Greg who is watching me. He has this funny smile on his face. I say, “what?” He says, “I was just watching you, typing away and then you stop and sigh”. I tell him that I am writing you a long overdue note but I don’t have anything interesting to say because I haven’t done anything different lately. He laughs and says, “tell her you’re staring at the four walls, it’s cold, it’s raining, it’s snowing…..ha, ha, ha”.
So, I will make up a story to entertain you…..maybe……here goes……thinking…….
Easter Sunday 2020. This year due to…… a) a wicked virus, b) a travesty set in motion by evil sources to wreck the US and/or it’s governing body(ies) (conspiracy theory), c) God’s wake up call, d) all of the above……. we were unable to spend the holiday with our family and traditions. Although we were disappointed and sad we realized we were still blessed and had the opportunity to be creative with how we would spend this Easter Sunday.
We headed out to the woods in search of morels. What a beautiful way to visit with God, in nature. Somewhat overcast, it was still a beautiful day.
Early in the morning, between rain showers, we jumped on the four wheeler and skiddadled up the hill to our super secret spot known for a plentiful morel harvest in previous years.
Me with my rubber wellies and Greg with his steel toed boots we entered nature’s portal with high hopes and determination. The ground was moist and covered with a blanket of crunchy brown leaves and soft bright green moss.
We slipped and slid, as we found our way over fallen logs, through spider webs stretched between bushes, down valleys, up hills.
We paused to appreciate the delicate flowers and plants pushing though to start their new journey of growth and beauty; dutchmen’s britches, jack in the pulpit, mayapples, ferns; to name a few.
Overhead squirrels twittered their annoyance with our invasion and birds sang their beautiful wake up songs. All else was quite. Pausing for a moment I took my cell phone from my pocket to snap a few pictures…..for prosperity sake. On hindsight I wish I would have left the cell phone at home; cherish the moment, maintain the memory.
The mossy hill called out to me; come rest here.
The flowers lifted their heads; be strong, have faith.
The wind blew gently; embracing my body. The sun peeked out from behind a cloud; all is bright.
Yes, we did find a few morels
but what we really found was the beauty of Life and a peak at the abundance of God’s gifts and many Blessings. Not the traditional egg hunt and chocolate bunnies and church service. No, something much deeper than that. So next year, if we’re so blessed that Easter Sunday brings us the opportunity to spend it with family and friends in addition to the Easter baskets and family dinner I think we’ll add a new tradition and add a nature hike to our celebration of Life!……..(no phones/cameras allowed). The end! (or maybe the beginning 😊 )
So, there you go, our Easter story 2020. Funny, I was going to write a story about finding a village of fairies in the woods while mushroom hunting but I guess I’ll have to save that one for another day.
Pace Love Joy
Judy