Of Quiet Walks

Of Quiet Walks                       

By John W. Vander Velden

The sun pierced the dense canopy of hardwood leaves, like bright diamonds high overhead, sending shafts of brilliance through the forest’s twilight. They walked silently, hand in hand, for the moment required no words, and no words could express the moment.  Too seldom they came to this place.  Too seldom they separated themselves from the hurried world.  Each time they walked these places, both made a silent vow, deep within their individual hearts, to return soon.  But the magic of this sacred world fades with miles, with days, with work, and worry--with life.  It will be years before they would tear themselves away from all life’s demands and return for the peace found in no other place.

Cooler beneath the trees, than sun soaked open places.  Quiet as they strode the hillside among the great columns of ancient hardwoods.  They moved cautiously, silently, alone, far from busy traveled trails, beyond the reach of other’s voices.  Even the songs of birds high above, a rare interruption to their ears, as they strode here in the quiet primal forest, and breathed the musty scent of last year’s leaves at their feet.

They shared more than the common love of this special realm.  They shared a life.  Years built with each other, home and family.  A slow evolving of one plus one becoming greater than two, as time’s binding one to the other.  Many years of shared living, building a combined past.  The melding of two people bonded in ways neither expected. Of finishing each other’s sentences.  Of sharing common thoughts. Of children now grown. Of together finding courage, to face an unknown future.  Of long quiet walks--together.

These things fill their minds as they wander the cathedral made by God himself.  They do not understand the whole of it--for the whole of it too complex for mere mortal minds. They understand that they are part of something larger, but do not see exactly how they fit.  For them it is enough to accept.  Accept the moment, accept the life they shared, accept each other--as imperfect as they are.  Comforted knowing that they have found acceptance, in each other--in their God.

Clarity comes here in the virgin wood, as they wander within the shadows of ancient trees.  The daily hectic world is pushed aside.  Bills and bosses do not exist--here.  They share these moments with only themselves and the God that they know is everywhere.  They will add this day to their fondest memories of quiet walks. 

(418 Words)     10-1-2016

7-1-2023