Snow Falling on Ponderosa's

Sitting here, pecking away at my laptop, I'm reminded of something my father has told me most of my life, "in quiet there is strength."  Sure, I mentioned it briefly in a recent post, but it most certainly bears revisiting.

I had the unique opportunity of a new and wonderful experience with my family, 3 miles on snowshoes.  Yes, with a 3 and 6 year old.  There are few things more silent or serene than walking through the forest with quarter-sized flakes gently falling from the sky onto a white-blanketed floor.  Even with my kiddos in tow, all sound seemed to fade to nothing but the crunch of snow under foot.

Major League Baseball's, Ray Knight said it well, "concentration is the ability to think about absolutely nothing when it is absolutely necessary."  So, that's what I did.  I concentrated on absolutely nothing.  I just took it all in.  The beautiful snow-draped branches on the Ponderosa's.  The perfect diamond pattern left in the trail from the cross-country skiers who traveled the path hours before us.  The smoke, gently curling out of the stove pipe of the yurt, Tibetan prayer flags draped across two sides, the environment so natural, so inviting.

Stepping into the yurt was as if stepping into a far away place.  The criss-cross oak frame silhouette against the canvas danced at the flicker of the candlelight.  A small wood stove spilled warmth throughout the cozy shelter, the stack of freshly chopped firewood still showing signs of a trip in from the snow.

I've begun to realize how much noise and distraction I have in my life.  It's easy to keep running.   Today, with my beautiful family, I got to embrace quiet.

Cheers