Wind

By Ariana Durling 6/25/2024

I sit out on this blustery day. Throwing the ball for the dog. Finally she tires and lays facing into the gusts. Lifting her nose slightly to allow every possible scent to be sensed. Her ears flap in the air…the wind singing constantly but letting up as if the conductor signaled diminuendo. Each gust is a unique tune…as it passes through the various trees surrounding us at different intensities. The cottonwood is loud and brash, the oak is low and subtle. The pines seem silent as they dance along. Up above us the tree limbs sway and tangle. It amazes me that they stay mostly intact. As the weatherman had stated 30-40MPH winds. Warning us to secure loose belongings. We fear the winds, the flying debris, the potential damage and loss of our luxuries such as electricity. But the trees seem to revel in the breeze.

Wispy clouds streak past in the sky, constantly changing the view as the song of air against vegetation continues. Birds still sing and call to each other, sometimes lost in the roar that surrounds us. Dragonflies and bees go about business like nothing is different. Their tasks before them are precious and get completed.

I observe as seeds are being transported to their new location, old growth is blown away to give room for new leaves, new grasses, new life. The wind quiets just enough to hear church bells from town ever so low in the background., reminding me of my humanity. The calmness allows birdsong to gain more clarity. I see the wind has knocked excess fruit off an early bearing apple tree. Allowing the fruit that survives to thrive bigger and healthier. The many critters and insects that will feed off the fallen will be nourished.

I lose track of time while I am enjoying Mother Earth and her breath. The clouds have thickened and are now threatening rain. I welcome the large cool drops on this summer day. The dog continues chewing on the stick she found …another remnant of the winds’ strength. We procrastinate our heading to the porch for as long as we can.

For today all we want is to be. To breathe. To be mindful. To be aware of our bodies. Paying attention to the world around us- how we fit here. No new epiphanies today. No lessons. Just a reminder of the importance of letting go, just being. This comes easy to my canine companion, whereas mine has been learned. Practiced out of necessity, allowing my stress to be blown away into the infinite spaces of the world. Easing my spirit and quenching my soul.

I offer a prayer to give thanks to the universe. And I feel the softness of a gust engulf me, as if to assure me my blessings continue. Our hearts are nourished as we adjourn back into our home and allow the songs to go on without us

***I recommend stopping, doing nothing the first chance you get. You’ll be surprised how satisfying it is. May your summer be filled with moments of silent-or not so silent moments of just being present.

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