This giant Maple is one of many shady spots at our house.
They heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden at the time of the evening breeze . . . Genesis 3
It’s hot,
humid, and I’m sweating just sitting in the evening shade. Crisscrossed in the green grass, my head is
bent over scissors and my hands move swift, precise, cutting out letters for a
piece of word-art. It’s been a long,
hot, day. Air settles across the world
like silt sinks to the bottom of a bowl of water.
Every few
minutes, though, there’s a breeze. The
trees lift their leaf-hands, saluting the air as it snaps and spreads like
someone shaking the wrinkles out of a crisp, white sheet.
Across the
yard I see my neighbors working slowly in their yard. A retired couple, their vegetable garden and
flowers beds are immaculate. They know when to work, I think to
myself, as they disappear around the side of their house in the early evening
cool.
These are
the moments that hide in summer time.
Small slips of cool in the dewy morning and early evening – the liminal
spaces between high heat and the still, dark, night. These are the ones I miss most often as I
press, push, and herd through each day. Children
swarm around me like insects circling a sweaty brow. The heat of the day rises and I feel myself
shutting down, retreating into a restless siesta while wide awake.
The breeze,
though, is gift. It is a gentle hand to
the brow, cool lips pressed to fevered flesh.
There is something
of God in a breeze, in air stirred like a breath and I’m learning to position myself in its pathway. Beside the
open window, under the leafy tree, you might find me. Hoping, waiting, to catch the breath of God
like a firefly in my hand, some small bright light to grace me through another day.
* * *
Welcome to the #SmallWonder link-up.
What if we chose to deliberately look for the small moments of wonder, the small sparks of presence, of delight or sorrow, of true humanity in which we meet God?
That’s my proposal – that we gather here each week to share one moment of Wonder from each of our days.
You’re invited to link-up a brief post about a small moment of wonder. Don’t worry if your post is too long, too short, or not just right – you’re welcome to come as you are.
While you’re here, please do take a look around and encourage at least one other blogger with a comment.
There is indeed something balm-like in the fresh breezes of God…
Those liminal spaces are holy moments, yes? I have the neighbor with the immaculate yard on one side–retirees with no kids at home. On the other side are neighbors with weeds, but a housefull of kids. Both are beautiful.
Thanks for hosting and creating this space for people to share once again. I love your words above…summer is such sweet time to just sit and be with the people we love. Thanks for sharing!
A story and a poem all rolled into one…you do it every time, Kelly. Just beautiful! I love your analogy…God is like a fresh breeze. Yes! I, too, would like to stand wherever the breeze flows.
Kelly,
I could feel the cool breeze as I read your words…joining you as we catch a cool breeze and the Spirit's breath…blessings to you 🙂
Hey Kelly, you write beauuuuutifully! Thank you for using your gift from God to refresh us with your words! patsy
for some reason I am not getting notifications of your blog, so I missed this. I really liked it. I too feel God in the breeze, sense his presence. I could almost feelit for myself.