How can I forget those Sunday afternoons? Hiking shoes on and off we went into the woods. I love those times, they meant so much to me. My Dad was an avid hiker, bless his soul, he is late now. I miss him so much as I love him deeply. We always hide a few sweeties in the deep pocket, carry our water bottles and off we go. My Dad never allowed headphone or music, he would hold my hand and we talk and talk. He was such a generous and active listener. I find it hard to believe he liked my yapping, but he always seemed interested, asking all the right questions, nodding at the right time, frowning at the right places and joining me in deep belly laughter at my silly jokes.
He would talk to me about everything in his life, using childlike language, he will tell me about his concerns, his joys, his work, his ambitions, his goals, he shared alot with me. He also taught me everything about the woods, the various trees, leaves, the birds, insects and all other inhabitants in the woods, he showed me how to navigate the woods when it was slippery and wet and how to enjoy it on a bright summer day. He taught me to use walking as a means to clear the mind and think through tricky issues. He made me appreciate and enjoy nature. Our walks were wonderful, I knew all the tracks and paths and different way of navigating the woods. We got lost a few times, he would calm me down and talk me through how to work out where we were and how to retrace out steps, we always make it back in one piece. Thinking about it now, I doubt we were ever truly lost, I think he pretended we were lost just to teach me a lesson or two on how to navigate life if I ever felt or got lost. I got so use to the woods, I was never afraid, even in the winter months when sometimes it gets dark pretty early while we were still at it. I dare say, I was so confident, I felt I could tackle that woods blindfolded. The walks with him put steel in my back.
My Dad passed on at the ripe old age. It was a life well lived. In honour of his memory and time together, I would go into the wood by myself and it was as if he was with me, I would see all the trees, leaves, insects and everything else he taught me. I would walk the same path we walked and it was as if I could see his foot print. I never felt alone it was as if he was with me. All was comforting.
We had walked every nock and corner of the woods, so there was no area untouched. Or that was what I thought, until one day I brushed away some thick bushes and right in front of me there was a long narrow track, I never knew existed, leading to where? I don’t know. For the first time I realised there was more to the woods then the areas I had walked with my Dad. I stood at the start of the track, afraid, confused and lost, not sure what to do. Should I? Should I not? I was torn, the temptation to return to what I had experienced, knew and understand with my Dad was overwhelming. My heart was literally in my mouth, taking a step into the unknown of the woods was extremely uncomfortable. Again I wondered, how could it be possible that my Dad did not know this aspect of the wood existed? He is a curious one and avid hiker. How is it possible? Or did he know all about it and chose not to take me there, expecting me to discover it by myself, but why? I guess I will never know the answer, but all in all, I realised that this was my time. I can only follow in my father’s footpath for so long, at some point I have to make my own fresh footprints. I must rely on the principles I have been taught and off I went to my own destiny, I tackled the unknown beast, taking tentative steps and praying each step of the way that the spirit of him that created all, will guide me in all my steps.
Those that gave birth to us and those ahead of us can only lead us so far, at some point, it becomes our own path and we must braze our very own trail that we might have something unique to us to pass on (in addition to all we have been taught).
May the good Lord bless our life journey.
Beautiful Ivory 