This I Believe

I believe in the beauty of nature. In the smallest grain of sand there is a world you would have never imagined. Tiny shells, and pretty pieces of a gorgeous igneous rock, ground down into the fine powder we all take for granted. In the grove of trees surrounding a pond in a pasture, there is beauty. Brought to this spot by pure chance and force of nature. Carried but the wind from its mother trees possibly miles away. There is beauty in the fish that swim in the pond. The way they dart to and fro amongst the lilies. Their backs reflecting silver from the rays of the sun. There is beauty in the small grass frog sitting along the back of the pond. It's long legs curled up, relaxed but ready to leap at any moment. His legs, long and powerful are the thing that make him so beautiful. The way they tuck under him and quickly throw back while he swims out to a a dead tree, fallen in from a mighty wind storm many summers ago. Already on the log is the gorgeous painted turtle, warming himself in the mid June sun. His black and yellow head help up high and proud. His underbelly, hides his most remarkable feature, a colorful array of orange, green, and yellow made into a breathtaking design. Back on the bank, a garter snake slides through the tall green prairie grass. She hides on the shadows beneath the tall poplar trees, looking for crickets to make her next meal. She slides by the ground squirrel. He is too big for her to make a meal of, so they live together in peace. Ground squirrel is staying out of sight of the mother Red-Tailed Hawk. She circles overhead searching for a meal for her newly hatched chicks. Their bald grey heads connect to ever hungry mouths, making mother go out to hunt for lunch. A white tailed deer and her fawn walk the cow path to the water. Thirsty in the days heat, they reach their heads down to get a drink. All while keeping their eyes up, fixed on me.
In all this there is beauty. I have seen it myself. I have sat on the backs of this pond, underneath the poplar trees, and I have seen. I believe that in a time long gone, everyone had a spot like this. But not now. Now, this is my spot. This, I believe, is where all the troubles of life slip into nonexistence , and I can just cast out, and fade away.

Z