February 4, 2015
(This is part of a 365 project during my 70th year where I write and
illustrate a blog on each day's gift.)
Without
exception, every time I walk in Downs Park, nature offers gifts without fanfare…a
gray squirrel scolding from a branch above, a bullfrog ballooning its yellow
throat as it calls across the pond to its future mate, white bobbing tails of
deer as they prance away from my approaching footsteps, a hoot owl softly
reminding me that things I don’t see are still there. One magical afternoon, a
butterfly even accompanied me for a quarter mile as it sampled flowers along my
path.
Today was
no exception. Near the end of my walk, I noticed a fallen log covered with what
looked like toilet paper. At first, I thought a prankster had accessorized the
dead wood. Then I thought maybe it was remnants of snow but no snow was in
sight anywhere else. My curiosity drove me to get closer, even though my way
was hindered by sticker bushes. I carefully tread on the stickers and gently
removed a few that clung to me. Once I was closer, I could see that the log
appeared to be covered with some kind of lichen such that I have never seen.
Soft, large and very white, it adorned the log like clothing. From a distance
it was not anything like what I saw when I examined it closer.
I have
found this often to be the case with people. From a distance, they appear to be
one thing but closer up, they are totally different. Anyone who approaches them
must brave the brambles they surround themselves with. Perhaps they are afraid
of someone seeing them as they are? That’s a shame because I usually find the
close-up view is always better and it’s worth a few scratches to get to know
the real person.
My gift
today is a close-up view.
You can read my other posts on this project here:
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