June has been a crazy month so far. Cold rain, cloudy, windy weather. And more rain. And more clouds. Would it never end? Of course there were some good days when the sun shone and a gentle breeze stirred the trees. The damp kept gardeners from planting in their soggy ground. A cold snap a month or so ago hit the early young plants and laid them low. The constant rain soaked peonies and roses that were just coming into bloom, turning their beautiful colors to sodden brown as their drooping petals fell to the ground.
And now it has turned into summer. Just a few days ago we woke to clouds and threats of more rain, but then the elusive sun broke through to beam down on us. And it got hot. And it got hotter. Sweatshirts were put back in the closet and shorts made a return along with bare feet and swimsuits. But along with the warm-up came the ever present humidity. Every thing you touched seemed to have been soaked in warm water. Clothes on the line refused to dry. The sudden change in temperature made us retreat to the cool of our air-conditioned houses. After a long day spent working in the garden, mowing the lawn, or putting up hay, the slow approach of dusk came with welcome relief.
As I sat on my porch, I marveled at the changing colors in the sky. First orange, then streaks of red. Purple shadows graced the flanks of the nearby hills. It was almost magical. Even though the remnants of heat were still there, a feeling of peace and rest came to sit beside me in my west-facing chair.
Though we struggle daily with all sorts of trouble, there is a place where we can change our point of view.
It may not be a perch like mine...above the valley and creek...but we can find a place to rest body and soul.
This summer will pass, fall and winter will follow, and then spring again. Our daily trials will always be there, along with joys. We need to sit and watch the sun set. A change in our point of view can bring us comfort and hope for all the tomorrows yet to come.
