Friday, December 4, 2009

The Brook





These are pictures of the brook that runs a long side our property and feeds the ponds out front. After the hard rain the other night the brook is running strong and freely and the sound is wonderful. I could listen to it for hours. And it was SO warm yesterday I could wade in the brook, barefoot and feel the coolness and rocks and "rush" of nature swirling over and around my feet that promises healing, hope, spirit and gratitude. As most of you know - I 'commune' with God and nature through my feet. I know that sounds weird but back when I was eleven and I needed a distraction He whispered in my ear to take off my shoes and walk bare foot - once I did that I could concentrate on what my feet felt rather than what had happened to me. Ever since, when I need to heal, reflect, give thanks, deepen a thought, escape, remember, forget, just "be" I wade in the brook or simply go barefoot, especially outside - I find it to be a total experience and salvation. Yesterday was no exception, in the warmth of the afternoon sun standing with my "other cane", pant legs rolled up mid-calf, boldly in the brook at it's deepest and strongest peak - cold water swirling over and around my feet, rocks, mud and twigs my foundation - I was in heaven! :-)..... I felt warm, safe, comforted and strong. Amen. Plus, the brook has been barely trickling for a long time so this was a long awaited nature's offering in which I delighted. :-)



Enjoy................




26 comments:

Teresa said...

Hi Gail,
I love how you can feel God by going barefoot, and how He shows up in unique ways for each of us. I enjoyed the sound of the babbling brook. Here the ground is frozen...and we are in the midst of a winter snowstorm and it is beautiful! ((((HUGS)))) T

Grizz………… said...

Now I understand why you once said, should you ever visit my riverbank, that you'd love to get down to the water and put your feet in the river's flow.

Makes perfect sense. Not weird at all.

After what you've been through recently, I'd count your wade as the week's second big blessing.

Jackie said...

The pictures you took of the brook are lovely. I'm glad that you can enjoy not only the sight of the brook, but the sounds, also.
I like the YouTube video. Is that a video that you took? I love the sounds of a brook, also.
Smiles to you from Jackie

Bernie said...

I love how you find healing and contentment in nature....your description of your weather yesterday is absolutely oppposite of what I am experiencing today...I am cosy by my fire as a blizzard rages outside, I love storms and feeling warm and safe inside.....:-) Hugs

Unknown said...

Long time since I walked in a cold brook...but it brings back memories, good ones!

Diana said...

I am glad that you were able to find some private time to reflect Gail.
It is cold here. We are all still trying to get used to it. Do you still have your company?
Love Di

Gail said...

HI DIANA-

Our 'company' left Tuesday morning. phew. Skipp and I both shed a few tears and then pretty quickly relaxed in the stillness and quiet. :-)
Love to you
Gail
peace.....

Gail said...

HI JOEY-

I am glad my wading in the brook brought up good memories for you. :-) So nice to see you.

Love Gail
peace.....

Gail said...

HI BERNIE-
I really fo love what nature offers. :-) And the weather ws like Spring here - but not for long. A measurable snow is coming tomorrow night. So our weather will be a bit like yours - no blizzard but snow!!! I will be staying home by the fire just like you Bernie. :-)
Love to you my friend
Gail
peace.....

Gail said...

HI JACKIE-
A compliment from you about any pictures I take means a lot!!! :-) And no I did not make that wonderful video - I do truly enjoy the sight, sounds and feel of our brook. It is such a treasure to me.
Love to you
Gail
peace.....

Gail said...

HI GRIZZ-
Oh yes, it is where I would spend many a morning, afternoon or evening so long as the weather allowed. Try it Grizz - while you still can this year.
And yes, the wade' is absolutely one of my blessings this week.
Love to you my friend
Gail
peace.....

Gail said...

HI TERESA-
I am SO happy to see you - I have missed you. And yes, He has been 'showing up' in the most unique ways for as far back as I can recall -
I am glad you enjoyed the sounds of the brook. And soon we will have lots of snow too!! I am excited about it. Especially since I will be safe and warm at home.

Love to you
Gail
peace.....

Anne said...

Hi Gail,
Just hearing the sounds of the running water, I can understand why you would want to put your feet in. The water rushing over your feet and toes must feel soo good. Also just watching and hearing the rushing of water is very peaceful and calming. The ocean makes me feel that way,too.
Take care and peaceful thoughts.

Gail said...

HI CHOICES-

Oh yes, it is all so soothing and also so powerful and energizing. I thin it is the perfect blend of nature's offering. :-)
I so love the ocean and allit offers as well.

Love to you
Gail
peace.....

Eileen said...

Nice post!
I love the sound of the water rushing over those rocks. Your brook is very pretty, and it was perfect weather here today too, I would have loved to have a brook to wade in! So glad you could enjoy it (or pray it, to me that is a form of prayer).
We used to have a cabin upstate New York and there was a brook and a waterfall nearby, I used to love walking to it, hiking the woods and climbing the rocks next to it and then wading in it. It was very much like you describe, sometimes almost dry and just trickling, and other times really a babbling brook!

I'm glad you got to enjoy it all! Is your weather supposed to stay nice? Our forecast for tomorrow is not very nice, maybe you'll be lucky and get another day or two of nice.

Enjoy your weekend!
Love to you!, Eileen

Gail said...

HI EILEEN-

Oh yes, I pray the brook all the time, :-) - Jesus and I love our chats by and or in the brook. we chat any where, any time but it just seem so special when I am in the nature offerings. And your memories of upstate MY and the brook are glorious. I am so glad you shared them with me.
We are getting snow here too. You and I are only about an hour away from each other. MNy daughter is coming tomorrow to finish up my shopping - stocking stuffers. My legs are weakened a bit from being busy with Alaura and helping my Mom a couple of days and my treking in the brook - so I need to keep still for a day. When shje gets back she is going to help me do some wrapping and we can just have some girl time. her son is at his other gram's for the day.
Have a wonderful weekend
Love to you
Gail
peace.....

Wanda..... said...

Ahh Gail, I envy your walk in the brook...It is too cold here, Grizz lives close by so I don't think he will venture in barefoot any time soon either. We'll have to wait for warmer weather.
The memory of your original reason for doing so must be bittersweet for you. I have a bittersweet memory of a walk in the woods with my mother. It was our very last walk together on a path in the woods, in the autumn of the year, but very memorable after a strong wind made a shower of acorns fall on our heads. She couldn't walk fast, so it lasted awhile!

Have a good weekend,
Wanda

Gail said...

HI WANDA-

I didn't realize Grizz lived close by to you. How close is close? Could you meet for coffee?
That is a beautiful memory, despite the acorns on your heads, of your last walk with your Mom. :-)
And yes, my original memory is difficult - but it is also a gift since I learned that Jesus was with me always.
Love to you Wanda - enjoy your weekend and your 'nature-land'!!
Gail
peace.....

Wanda..... said...

Well, I don't know exactly, and I doubt we'd ever meet for coffee, but maybe within 20-30 minutes. You get a sense of knowing where some one is from reading their posts after awhile, if you're at all familiar with the area. His river runs right through my small village.

Cindy said...

Gail, you never cease to amaze me, I hate wearing socks even in the winter! So I can so understand you in the brook, I never thought about feeling God through your feet, I do now. Your day and your experience sounds wonderful. Like Bernie, we are in a raging blizzard, but thats okay! Glad you had such a lovely day.Big hug!

Gail said...

HI CINNER-
Yup, my feet. It was back then, when I was eleven that He, God/Jesus told me to take off my shoes so I would feel my feet on the rough pavement rather than feel________! I feel SO close to Jesus when I am barefoot.

Love to you my friend
Gail
peace......

Gail said...

HI WANDA-

wow, 20 to 30 minutes away. That is very close. Small world, huh? That his river runs through your village. Amazing!
Thanks for getting back to me.

Love you
Gail
peace.....

Comrade Kevin said...

Very calming images. Thanks. :)

Gail said...

HI KEVIN-

Glad you liked them. And it is so nice to have you stop by. :-)

Love Gail
peace.....

giggles said...

I've been a poor bloggy friend lately...sorry... Glad to hear mom is fine....Whew! I missed what was wrong, I'm such a bad bloggy friend.... Enjoy the rest of this holiday season....

Gail said...

HI GIGGLES-

No worries. :-) So nice to see you. Enjoy the Christmas season. Stay close.

Love you
Gail
peace.