Winter/January

A Communion With the Wind

Today the wind was high and the air laden with southern gusts of warm air. I got in the car and drove over to Sweetwater Casino where I got out and sat on one of the benches along the river. Not a soul was there. The wind tore at my hat, my hand struggling to hold it on my head. It was a wonderful feeling sitting there alone and meditating on this wind-tossed river. It really is an old friend, and I think it recognized me as I sat near its edge watching it flow. “How fare you today, river?”, I asked in my imagination. “The wind roils me and drives my currents”, it seemed to reply to my idle question. “It chops my surface and causes white caps to dance on me. But I like this game I play with the wind. It chases me and I respond by slapping my sides along the bank as I churn with delight on this bright afternoon in January. And best of all, I become the wind, the sky and the sun whenever they are mirrored in my glistening self. It changes my mood and countenance and makes me the river I am. This day is filled with caprice and I revel in it, my friend.”

I got up to leave and walked toward my car. I got in and thought how lucky I am to be so close to such a creative and animating force. The thought repeated itself as I drove along the road that accompanies the river until I reached my house again. Yes, truly lucky! Today I feel my revels, too, are not yet ended.