A few days ago I was chatting with some friends on WA. We are all in different countries from one another and we happened to just pick up on restrictions and things opening up. I had said that I am so looking forward to seeing all my friends again, since I have only seen one friend, perhaps twice a month, since March last year. (I made a conscious decision from the start to avoid any contact with schools, and she has no children.) Thank God she is as much of a hiking fanatic as I am!
On thinking about it further - I actually think that they are one and the same. The grace of God, by way of the forest, has been a tangible, audible, aroma-filled presence in the last 14 months.
I have watched the seasons change. Firstly, the spring blossoms peeping through to warmer weather, then bouncing out in celebration of the sun, the summer followed with hot days, lazy days, sitting next to the river days.....then I saw the leaves turn to gold, red and yellows, soon followed by the bare boughs draped in snow.
And here we are. Full circle and watching the blossoms and the spring flowers shooting up to celebrate spring again.
(I was reminded of a (sort of) poem I wrote in February 2020 and posted my "other" blog on 3 March 2020. Just before Covid, how very timeous it was. It's called Towering Giants, in case you are bored and want to read my little effort! :) )
Yes, the grace of God has seen me through this far.... and grace will lead me home.
