Thousands have lived without love; not one without water.  

     – WH Auden

Water is elemental; water is life. Perhaps this power is why wild, natural water bodies fascinate and terrify me, in equal proportions.  

This past week I had the chance to quietly reflect next to still water, to persevere against frozen pellets falling from the sky, and to stand nearly paralyzed before many (many!) stream and river crossings. It was awesome, and also humbling.

I have to admit that when we finally passed through the area of generous-yet-daunting natural connections like fallen logs and slippery rocks, I kissed the first constructed bridge that we encountered. What a wave of relief and gratitude, to know that others – total strangers! – had left this gift for future travelers.

Dear ones, we can’t always be the engineers. Sometimes it’s all we can do to struggle across the stream ourselves. 

But if we can, when we can, let’s recognize the full power of the forces around us. Let’s see where a bridge might really help.

Let’s make it easier for the next ones to cross.