Finding My Way back

The Peace of Wild Things

When despair for the world grows in me

and I wake in the night at the least sound

in fear of what my life and my children's lives may be,

I go and lie down where the wood drake

rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds.

I come into the peace of wild things

who do not tax their lives with forethought

of grief. I come into the presence of still water.

And I feel above me the day-blind stars

waiting with their light. For a time

I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.

Wendell Berry

We all have hopes and dreams for our life, and for our children's and grandchildren's lives. In years past these thoughts were filled with optimism and certainty that they would become reality. After all, anything is possible.

However, with recent events throughout the world, it is becoming increasingly difficult to maintain a high level of optimism. I myself have found it challenging recently to rise above it all and find a way not to have fear about the future.

Many may ask what is there to be fearful of? Or, why is it hard to see a bright future for our children and grandchildren? My response is how can they not have some trepidation of what may come down the road? There are many things to cause some concern if you take a look around.

• People of many races and social classes spreading hatred and fear.
• Friends and neighbors becoming alienated because they are being intolerable of one another for having different beliefs.
• The blaming of certain religions and their followers for all the world's problems.
• Threats, and or attacks, being so easily thrown out with no regard to the consequences or how it will perpetuate more negativity and violence.

I could go on, but I'm sure you get the idea. And, our children are watching and hearing all of this! I raised my children to be kind and polite. They were taught that their is good in everyone, and even if someone's beliefs are different it doesn't make them a bad person. And, most importantly, sometimes it is best to be the bigger person and walk away. Things I know they are trying to teach their children even with all that is going on in the world.

In spite of all that has been taking place, I am trying desperately to find my way back to a positive place. To find a way to endure and rise above all that may come. To find a way to explain to my grandchildren that all they have seen and heard is not acceptable, or how they should live their lives. And to set the example for them.

Perhaps, as Wendell Berry suggests, I will go to the peace of wild things, and rest in the grace of the world and be free. Maybe then the positive and peaceful will rise to the top, and silence all the negative.