Canticle of the Creatures on repeat. Curled up in bed while the sky comes to life with crimson. There you are. With it, the far off cry of geese bolstering my soul into another day. There you are. I allow my mind to drift with the closing of my eyes to possibilities yet unknown to me. There you are. Encouraging my mind to fall back if it will so to allow my imagination free rein.
There you are. Infant alone in the dark woods. Night. Centuries rest around a well tended fire. Flames reflected in tired eyes. To guard, protect. The babe crying. Alone. Endless barren night. Endless graceless winters. Endless waiting.
The Canticle invites me into new understandings. I’ve listened to this track dozens of times in the last few weeks. There you are. I’ve played it on my keyboard, and I’ve allowed it to be my background as I find myself humming the now familiar tune while walking forest paths, exclaiming it when I see a creamy soft doe peek out from around a tree, and reciting the words mindlessly when washing dishes in sudsy warm water. There you are.
But, now… now, in this state of invitational rest I witness the unfolding. A full blessed emerging moon. Gentle wind guiding clouds away in the darkening sky, and a sigh of silver light gracing the white crisp landscape around the babe. There you are. A century rises from the fire and walks to the sleeping babe, crouching beside her with a cup of water from the fresh running stream that backdrops the silence. There you are. Pulling the fur gently around her shoulder, he kisses her tenderly on the forehead. There you are. A pause, a blessing for her safety, and he returns to his post by the fire that blesses them all with it’s warmth and protection. There you are. As the moonlight fades a crimson sky lifts over a field far off through the trees, bringing promise of warmth and light. There you are. Soft footprints come close as the centuries sleep and the fire fades to a single line of smoke. The babe feels a twitch of whiskers and soft muzzle running over her forehead and across her cheek. Breath blown through nostrils and the sudden twitch of ears brings the baby awake with a giggle. The joy of laughter that leaps from deep within. Eyes locked on eyes. Knowing of all. Past, present, future. One. There you are. There you are.
In time, the image fades and I feel my body by the fire. A woman now. Sitting by centuries. Accompanying, but not of them. Staring into flames. Safe but alone. One day I will walk into the forest and disappear into the mist, the snow, the space in-between time and space, like those before me. And there I will be met by those who have walked paths before me and those yet to be seen on this earth. There you are. But for now, I walk the forest endlessly searching for something that has greeted me in every moment. Unknowingly. There you are. How did I not see you. How can I learn to rest in your embrace. Your care. The heart of all that is. The key unlocking all we are. There we are.
With much gratitude to God, and the many creatures that grace this earth who are the wonders of His love. To the many who have accompanied me on my journey.
