Natural Wonder

     A few days ago, I took a walk along a new favored place called the Greenway.  Let me first say that I got stupid that day.  I walked farther than I should have and paid for it.  At the end of the walk, my feet were killing me, my ankles hurt like hell, my knees were creakin' and I was limping pretty bad.  But I would gladly accept all that pain all over again for what I saw.

     It marvels me what some people willing refuse to acknowledge.  My walks, originally mandated by a doctor, are now something I actually look forward to.  For one simple reason.  For the nature.  Back to my point, it marvels me, when I take these walks, that the other people on the Greenway simply stare straight ahead and don't acknowledge the wonders around them.  Oh sure, right now things are still brown from Fall and Winter, but there are areas of green coming through.  Plus there is the wildlife.  On my little trip I saw dozens of squirrels (of course), a pair of Cardinals, a quad of Bluejays, a Falcon, a Raccoon, and four Deer.  one of the Deer, a brave soul, actually walked within 8 or 10 feet of me.  And silly me forgot to bring a camera.

     And while all this wonderful wildlife was walking, scurrying, and flying around, people other than me simply jogged on by, not even looking.  Some were on bikes, wearing their 'precious' little helmets and spandex shorts...keeping their heads down and never looking at the wonders of Nature herself.

     I love my walks for the simple reason that I get to encounter nature...and I feel sorry for all the others who never look at the wonder around them.

     Enjoy the walk and you won't care how far you go.  Your body will automatically fall into the perfect rhythm for walking...how fast and how far determined by your body itself.

     So...just enjoy the birds and the other animals.  And if you happen to be on the Big Creek Greenway here in Georgia and you see a bear walking along the man-made trails, don't run screaming...it's probably just me.

A Light in the Black

     Have you ever actually FELT your heart sinking?  Actually FELT yourself slipping into the abyss that is depression?  You WANT to do things.  You WANT to go places, but you are too far into the claws of the Blue Mood that it creeps into Depression.  But then something magical happens.  It's a sound, a Voice, a word...something.  You hear this sound, or whatever, and instantly that Blue Mood that is damn near black now evaporates as if it never was.  I have that magical "whatever".  It's a Voice.  A beautiful, magical Voice that I have been blessed to hear since my age was in single digits.  That's right, folks, you know what's coming....it's the Voice of my Muse.  

     But I can't hear it right now.  The last few days I have standing on the edge of the Abyss, feeling the rocky ledge crumbling under my feet.  I stood watching the endless Vortex of Darkness swirling away, as if I stood at the event horizon of a black hole.  Just a single word in that sweet, heavenly voice and I know that the ledge would solidify instantly, that the sun would shine again...that there would be hope for another day.  Pictures help.  I can see her smile, the twinkle in her eyes...and it helps.  Some.  But I can still feel the ledge being eaten away by the Vortex.  

     I have sent word to my Muse.  I hope she got it.  I need her help.  I need to hear HER voice.  Instead, I hear the voice of the Dark.  And where I used to enjoy hearing from the Dark, its voice has changed....it's harsher, more demanding.  I'm not afraid of the Dark, exactly...but I am....apprehensive.  The Dark used to welcome me with open arms like a long lost friend would.  Now I feel it waiting for me, like a predator waiting for prey.

     But the Voice of my Muse will change that.  To hear her Voice will awaken a light in my heart and my soul.  It will armor me against the Dark and against the Vortex.  Her Voice will make me unafraid to look into the heart of the Dark.  

     "SOON", the Dark says to me.  "SOON WE WILL BE ONE."

     With the Voice of my Muse echoing in my ears, I can turn my back on the Dark and its Vortex.

     "Not yet", I will whisper, as I walk away.  

     "Not yet."