Refuge...

“Solitude is a chosen separation for refining your soul."

― Wayne Cordeiro

*Note: I had originally intended to submit this post to Four Perspectives for consideration as part of their upcoming topic.  Little did I know that less then 24 hours later I would again seek the refuge of the river as I tried to sort out my muddled thoughts after the tragic death of a dear friend. It only seemed appropriate to share it here with the other posts I have done in the last couple of days.

In the midst of the cacophony of day-to-day life there are times when a person needs to leave the stress and strain behind and find a place of refuge.  

I have had my share of those days. When that happens I usually find myself behind the wheel of my car heading to explore the untamed beauty of the desert surrounding my home. More often than not my wanderings take me somewhere close to the river, this giver of life amidst the starkness of the surrounding landscape.

The steady ebb and flow of the current seems to carry away the burdens of the moment and instill a sense of calm. A sense that the world outside is bigger than any momentary problem and that, like the river, I can continue on. As in life, the river itself does not run a smooth course. There are areas of calm disrupted by eddies and swirls, by rapids and undertows, straightaways and meandering twists and turns. Yet, still it continues onward – part of something larger than itself. 

Perhaps this is why, when I need a moment of refuge, I find myself drawn to a place beside a flowing waterway where I can collect my thoughts, renew my spirit, and leave refreshed until the next time when I will seek again the refuge of the river.

*That was the end the original post. I'd sent it to Jason for his input not knowing that he'd never see it or that the early pre-dawn morning would find me driving toward the banks of the river seeking peace and some sense of comfort.

 I sat and listened to the river as it drifted past watching as one by one the stars blinked out and dawn approached. I saw a shooting star or two and thought how like Jason they were - blazing brightly, but briefly across the sky and my life. I'm sure this is not the last time I will find myself seeking solace and refuge from the river.