I recall so very well the time we visited Sequoia National Forest several years ago (we were in California for our oldest daughter's graduation from Thomas Aquinas College in Santa Paula.) We went out a little early, with our youngest daughter, (middle daughter was in her second year at TAC) to have some great adventures with the family. They had a late snow in the higher elevations in CA that year and snow banks still lined the roads as we drove through the park. Light snow was still coming down. It made things all the more interesting, experiencing so much snow in late May.
Our accommodations were just outside the Forest, with a winding, hilly drive coming and going to the park. There was a lovely mountain stream just a few yards from our room, across the parking lot. I loved sitting out there and seeing all the California birds do their aerial acrobatics over the stream, trying to "catch their lunch." They were so colorful and entertaining. After a few days, as the temperature creeped up, the creek began to exhibit higher water levels, and a much faster rate of flow, as the melting snow came rushing down. It was awesome! There were several high rocks close to the bank, and I would climb up on one of those and just sit there for a while. Just the sound of the rushing water soothed my soul, very similar to the effect that ocean waves calm my tension. The birds did not give up their hunting. With the rising temps, the bugs were waking up, and the dining opportunities for the birds rapidly took off. The whole experience from that creek had more of an effect on me than the huge Sequoia trees in the park. The trees were obviously amazing, but not nearly as entertaining as the frenzy of activity near the stream. Trees just stand there, and your neck gets sore from looking up!
As the water began to creep up the parking lot, closer to our holiday abode, we went to ask the owners if we should park elsewhere. Their assessment of the situation was that we were in no danger, but then they brought out the old photo album of a serious flood that had taken place there in the past. The water did come up all the way to the rooms during that flood, some care were partially submerged, and water seeped under the doors. They had to do a lot of cleaning and repairs (not sure what happened to the submerged cars…)
At any rate, luck was with us. I was able to witness the fury of a rushing mountain river, without any sort of casualties, (kinda made me hold my head high and pretend that I was akin to John Muir!, Father of the American Parks system.) And that lovely, once in a lifetime experience, still flows through my mind with great pleasure, fond remembrance and bright colors.
I share all of that to say this: So much of our lives seem like a rushing river, unless we put in a great effort to slow ourselves down enough to truly enjoy it. We truly must live as though each day were our last, because, we never know what's around the bend, and we can't know when our adventure on earth will come to an end. We only have today, so let's reach out and embrace the beauty of this day fully, the big moments, and the little moments. And if our lives start to feel like a mountain stream rushing by way to quickly causing us stress, and or anxiety (kind of like how my summer is starting to feel…, with my job and a family campout happening very soon! Then I know it's time to climb onto a rock, and just enjoy the peace and beauty and majesty of it all.
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