close: I was right on the line. It did not take much, a simple statement (a quip really)
tossed out by Lindel the badfish that hit me, knocked me over the edge, and had me free
flying in the parallel universe. It was a lonely place, all things looked the same but all
meanings were different. I got more frightened of people with each day's passing, not able
to decipher the code language of their speach and action as fast as it came. I grew too tired
and eventually took to an island for refuge.
It was Lindel who found me there on that island in the sun six months later and helped me
get off of it.
Lindel: "hip hip" I dedicate this section of my site to You.
Thanks for the rattles.
human beings is a huge and daunting task. I am fortunate to live away from people in a
place of peace...in the center of nature, with forest and fields, mountains, lakes and rivers
as neighbors.
I began my earnest attempt at understanding this great work of art we call our real world,
the world driven by humanity, by looking to nature for cues before trying to tackle the
task of understanding people (Myself not included, for being a mother I was sure of who I
was. I was Mother Earth, responsible for life and dedicated to it?s natural and peaceful
preservation.)
One day, as the sun shone brightly, I was in my house doing what I did each day, trying to
face my greatest fear (people) the safest way I could, by visiting them online. As I
watched a lady with the name of a bird through the computer screen window, I heard a
thump against the window of the room I was in. I knew what it meant...a bird had flown
into the window and crashed instead of breaking through. I feared for the lady in my
computer.
I left the house and went out into the sunshine to find the poor unfortunate creature and
to see if I could help it. When I found the bird lying on the ground, it was beyond help...it
had knocked itself dead. Flying into the illusive reflection of sky in the window had killed
that bird. I was afraid of the meaning of that episode for the lady I had been watching
through the computer window...the lady with the name of a bird.
The only thing that I could do was lay the bird to rest in the ground and say a few prayers,
so I picked it up and walked with it respectfully in my hands, out to the horse field for a
funeral and burial. After the ceremony, I sat on the ground and pondered the meaning of
what had happened. It was a peaceful time and the sunshine warmed me and my friend,
my horse, who stood by me in stillness and silence. A light breeze blew and the air was
fresh. All was perfect for meditation and reflection.
One thing was sure to me, God was in control. As I reflected and searched for the
connection between the natural world and the world of human nature I stared at the
ground and an ant at work caught my eye.
The ant, a very hard worker (as ants are) was dragging over the uneven ground another
bug, twice the size of itself. I watched the ant labour without hesitance, moving forward
with obvious focus and deliberate intent...struggling with the burden of it's load. Once
again I watched what nature was delivering for me to me to witness, for cues.
Struggle it did that ant, for the ground was hoof beaten clay, uneven and littered with
small sticks and little rocks. For the ant it was rough terrain, with deep ravines to climb in
and out of, big logs to climb over and huge rock cliffs to scale; all while carrying it's
precious cargo.
I studied the ants progress, saw it never give up, shifting its load going uphill to drag it,
carrying it inch by inch (mile by mile) toward its unknown destination. When it came to
one particular stick (as big as my finger) the ant had great difficulty. It tried pulling the
bug up. The ant fell off the log. It tried again and again. It never gave up; it was on a
mission to succeed. I felt sorry for the ant and was tempted just to push the little stick out
of its way; but, I am Mother Earth. I believe nature would have its own solution because
God is the Master of creation.
I watched and waited to see the outcome, wondering what solution the feckless ant would
finally come to use to get past this great obstacle. I grew entranced by this wonderful
display of fortitude and strength. Determination and guts. Sisu*
Soon I noticed two more ants coming toward my hardworking friend. They walked side by
side and I wondered if they were coming to assist. What occurred amazed me and I'm not
certain to this day that what I saw really happened, but I believe it did.
The two marched directly to the one with the load, and one bumped into it. In the blink of
an eye the new ant took over the load and the ant who had been struggling was marched
off by the other ant. A replacement worker had been brought in and the tired ant was
accompanied by an escort off to a destination that only they knew. The new ant dragged
the bug around the log and struggled onward and forward with the same guts and
determination as the first had done.
I saw the lesson for humanity. Guts, determination, and teamwork.
Feeling inspired and needing now to stretch my legs, I rose and departed from the horse
field and walked out toward the old barn. . . marvelling at God's perfection. I kept my
eyes alert for my next lesson in nature and it did not take long to find it. Keeping my
eyes to the ground it was easy to see it. A snake by the trap door of the chicken coop.
What was I to learn next?
*Sisu (Finnish language coloquialism) cont´d...part2
