Kleanza Creek
Something about the river feels like home to me.
Soothing sounds
                                    earthy smells
                                                                   glistening in the sunlight
                                                                                                                     dancing  downstream
                                                                                                                                                                 fills me with ease.
 
River knows where to go intuitively, without thought. I admire the ease by which she flows; her gentle ripples and raucous thunderous song.....
                                                                            trusting - accepting - its course, its way.
    
    It is so sensuous here now.
 
And yet, I become aware of fearful thoughts getting in the way of allowing myself to sink into this place and fully embody the experience. I am afraid of being alone here knowing the bears are out of hibernation. I am not used to living with bears - I do not know their ways or what I would do if I encountered one.
 
    I don’t need to be scared; I need to be present.
 
I become mindful of my breath...breathe in and out, in and out, in and out. I close my eyes and listen to the sound of the river and know that fearful thoughts are keeping me from this magnificent experience. If an opportunity arises when I need to feel afraid, I will handle it then but right here, right now, there is no threat.
 
     I can be peace.
 
My mind tries to take me back to the fear but I return to the breath and the sounds until the fear subsides and I watch with joy the movements and forms created in the surges and the water droplets as they splash into the air - they look so free. The longer I stay here by the canyon the clearer my vision becomes and I am constantly seeing the world anew.
    
What if the story of the canyon could speak?
 
Out of the corner of my eye I saw an eighteen to twenty four inch salmon attempt to jump up the steepest slope in the canyon. I am in awe at the brilliance, strength and determination of these animate beings. I wonder how long it will be before salmon takes another jump? I find myself waiting in anticipation but it could take a while. I imagine it found a place under the turbulent waters where it is calmer until it has the strength to jump again.
 
 
 
 
 
“Keep walking, though there’s no place to get to.
Don’t try to see through distances.
That’s not for human beings. Move within,
But don’t move the way fear makes you move”
 (Rumi, 1995, p. 278).