A Morning Walk in the Yard, and Darfur

Sometimes things happen to you and around you when you seemingly do nothing to make them happen. When we can step away, we can retrace our steps to discover why we are where we are, and what we did to get there. There's a cause for every effect, and an effect for every cause.

In a global sense, certainly there are things that occur, and the distance that separates us from these events gives the false impression that it doesn't concern us. But our hearts tell us it does concern us. There is much discord, suffering, and inhumane things happening in the world, in Africa, in Darfur today. Pray that the suffering is brought to an end. If you want to help, here's a link and another.

'At least 400,000 people have died in Darfur since 2003. Every 8 minutes another Darfuri is killed. Over 2.5 million have been displaced and are trapped in refugee camps. Peace remains a distant goal. While foreign media and politicians move on to other issues, those concerned hold their breath, believing themselves powerless'. AOL News.

There seems to be no end to the inhumanity the people of our world are willing to participate in, put up with, and pretend it isn't happening.

In a more local sense, more local than one's own country, one's state, one's county of residence... even in one's own backyard, things take place seemingly beyond our awareness. We forget our input that begins the process when we first planted a seed, or transplanted a bulb. We forget the life that already existed before we even set foot on the piece of land we come to call the homeplace.

In our backyard, flowers bloom without any attendance from our hands. Trees stand taller by the year, shading our yard to our gratitude, and grass grows where it can. Moss carpets what the grass cannot tolerate. Hostas, Ajuga, Solomon's Seal, Daylilies, Creeping Myrtle, Goldenrod, Irises, Lotus, Water Pickerel, and others with names forgotten... all come forth each spring, without our assistance. It surprises us, and I don't know why because we planted themat one time or another. Still, their return pleasantly surprises and delights the senses.

Misty, Max, and I took an early morning walk through the yard, my camera in hand. For a few minutes, all was calm, all was bright. Darfur seemed so far away.