Do You See What I See?

Do you see what I see?
It wasn’t long ago that an angry fire raged along
our peaceful Santa Cruz River, wiping out bushes,
trees, and favorite nesting places for a variety of
birds. Great mushrooms of black smoke billowed
along a mile of the river, smoke mixed with
bright orange flames. It was very sad to see.

I walk the river path regularly, or ride my bike, and
I always enjoy a conversation with beautiful nature
who shares the land with me. But, since the fire,
the birds have been silent, the ground is covered in
black soot and ash, trees that survived are charred
and scarred. The river continues her flow, but
on both sides of her pathway, the banks are
devastated. All is gone.
Until…do you see what I see?
Little green patches of life, clusters of
determination, are already appearing,
as if to announce: “See, a future emerges
from the flames.”
In faith, I believe there is an eternal rhythm
just below the surface of our reality; it throbs
with life, survives life’s brutalities, withstands
our sadnesses, and announces
tomorrow in spite of today.
That rhythm is a gift that blesses those
who see green grass emerging from
devastation and sorrow.
Do you see what I see?