Honeybee and Malva, balm for the soul.
Last week in my Colorado hometown we got a generous serving of what others throughout our country (and the world) suffer more regularly-a natural disaster. You see, we’re spoiled here. We’re usually blissfully immune from tornadoes, floods, earthquakes, hurricanes, and other trouble. Last week, thanks to years of global-warming drought, we got it good.
True terror and shattered nerves-for a straight week! Mountains afire. Hundreds of homes destroyed. A presidential visit to a scene of epic destruction. Only yesterday did we allow ourselves to start to breathe a little easier (yes, that’s a bad joke about the smoke and ash). The fire is now 55% contained and let me tell you, we’re seeing our cup as more than half full.
I could put a scary picture here, to illustrate what we’ve been through, but I am burnt out (bad pun intended) on a thousand images of destruction.
Thank goodness there is always beauty and grace somewhere amid the mayhem; as Rhonda Van Pelt shows us so elegantly in the photo above.
She shares her experience below.
-Sandra Knauf
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Crazy times!
We’ve learned all too well that Nature can be a destructive force, unleashing its random malevolence on us puny humans with little warning.
But, of course, Nature can be healing, a cool balm on our scorched souls and battered hearts.
On Saturday [June 30], after nearly a week of stress and smoky air, I took my camera to Monument Valley Park. I was craving coolness, calm, and lush growth in this time of heat, confusion, and decimated landscapes. I found it in the singing birds, the buzzing bees, and the blooming flowers, and wonder why I haven’t been doing this every day during our trial by fire.
Life goes on and beauty remains in this world.
-Rhonda Van Pelt
I can’t imagine the stress and fear with fire all around you… Hope there is much rain and regrowth ahead for you all.
Thanks, Zoe. It was 100% contained not long after this post (we have been lucky after all!) And we’ve had a few rains, finally.