THE CALM IN THE STORM

It’s autumn, and everything seems perfect. It’s that time of the year when you get to see and experience the beauty of nature. Everything seems to be at its optimum level.  The sun shines just enough and its rays bounce off the leaves, displaying their varying colors like that of a male peacock, gracefully displaying its colorful feathers to attract the female. At this time of the  year you find partners taking walks together hand in hand and creating memories and stronger bonds.

And oh, there is always a perfect scenery for a picture or two so these memories can be well documented. I sat by the riverside enjoying the beauty of nature, leaves of different colors falling off the trees unto canvas of freshly cut grass. And just nearby, a father who was on a walk with his daughter stopped upon the orders of the child. This young lady clad in a blue denim and a cute army green bomber jacket had a beautiful aura about her. She had stopped to tell her dad about how beautiful the leaves were.

As a couple more fell from a nearby tree unto the lawn, she said, “See Dad. A pink leaf !”.

Her Dad reached over to take a look and said in reply, “ That’s beautiful, but I think it’s a red leaf”. They continued arguing about the leaves as she enjoyed nature and the outdoor. It was a Friday, at the time most people were off work, parents with their babies in trollies, friends and colleagues taking a stroll, lovers flirting with each other and a few others who were alone just enjoying the scenery. From time to time you’d have a few people stop over and say hi, have a quick chat and continue on their way. And just across where I sat, you could see the calmness of the river, with boats moving calmly along with the waves…... Obviously everything looks serene and calm and you could say everyone and everything was just perfect. Then, a little bird flew towards where I sat and perched on a branch of a tree. For the next minute and half it sings beautiful melodies after which it frantically searches through the leaves to find crumbs of food or pastries to feed on. The bird, though going through stress pauses to sing melodies. You’d think it’s outrageous, but hey the singing made someone put some crumbs of pastries on the floor.

The Ducks and Swans swam gracefully on the surface of the river, and as if to show off, they did stunts in the water to the amusement of kids who had stopped by to admire, just to get a few people to toss some food over to them. Right beneath all these wonderful displays, they vigorously battle the currents that are flowing in more than one direction. Such is life, you have no idea what the next person may be battling behind the scenes. Just like the riverside where you find people smiling and taking walks, they are at the same time having battles of their own.

However, these walks and interactions with nature and people help us to handle each and every situation. Enjoying the scene of the sunset, I saw a mother trying to make a very urgent call as well as keep an eye on her child. She seemed so stressed from her motherly duties, but then her child looks into her eyes gives a wide and bright smile and just like that, this mother looks vibrant and younger. She picks her child up and points to the final moments of the sunset, while she plants a kiss on the child’s cheek.

Everyone needs that Calm in the Storm

Author : Yohannes