It was, perhaps,
just a walk in the woods.
or, Lord,
was it more than that?
There was the hollow radi-tat-tat
high above from a dead tree
revealing a Redheaded Woodpecker.
I stood staring up in wonder
the vibrant red adorning the head,
the black feathers on the back, &
the white belly
all the while hammering away
at a dead tree.
I walked on
until a sort of scamper-slither
crossed the path.
Again I stopped to notice
a black lizard body
with stripes of bright blue and orange
on the Skink standing still before me.
I walked on
until a tunnel of live oak branches dressed in resurrection fern
fringed with Spanish moss.
invited me down an aisle
to a sacred altar, a thin place,
where heaven and earth seemed to touch.
Yes, Lord,
it was a walk in the woods,
a sacred communion,
a holy time,
a deeper connection with fellow creatures,
a time to wonder
at your beautiful intricate web called,
Creation,
a masterpiece of the finest order
by the oldest of artist,
you, O Lord.
I look forward to my next visit
to your gallery.
Amen
______
This prayer was inspired by a recent visit to Skidaway Island State Park, Georgia.
