Lost and Found in the Rhythm

After finishing at the fair, neither Randy nor I felt like spending our evenings at home by ourselves so we decided to go somewhere. But where? It had been a warm afternoon at the fair so a place with water became a requirement. I wanted to go to a mountain lake but we didn't have enough time for that. Champoeg State Park was too much in the valley for my tastes besides the fact the Willamette would be the water form for that park and as my sister says, that river will deform your feet. It was then I had the brilliant idea, (or was it God whispering in my ear?), to go to North Fork. I hadn't been there since I was a young teenager but looking it up, discovered it was less than a half hour away from Salem. Amazing how some things just work out isn't it?

When we arrived at the park, it was to a nearly empty parking lot. The sun was lowering on the horizon casting the trees and pathway in a golden light, bringing out the bright tinge of the leaves along the path. Berry and pine aromas filled the air and we could hear the water running over the rocks. When we arrived at the river's edge, we found a playground of stones and rivulets of water running between them. One particular spot was especially beautiful to behold as the water fell over a rock ledge into a basin below. I stepped into the current and played around climbing over the rocks and letting the water cool my soul. While trying to get back to shore, I slipped on one of the smooth stones and fell half way in. After picking myself up and seeing a large turn in the river, we walked further along to get a better view. It was beautiful. Crystal clear in the shallow pools, the water was a deep shade of emerald green in the depths. Wading in the water, feeling a part of the earth's rhythm, I handed over my glasses to Randy and joined in the river's drumming. The water took me into it's heart, swallowing me whole, birthing my body anew. Carried by the life blood of the earth, I at last emerged renewed, cleansed, once more in sync with the spirit that bore me, the spirit through which I breath. Being in the trees, rocks, and water, I feel more myself, can sense my unbreakable bond with God more clearly, than I can ever hope to anywhere else. I go to the ocean shore to find God, I go to the mountains to find myself.

365-09 #241