Reflecting

I just returned from another adventure. This one took me into the National Grasslands of south eastern South Dakota. While slowly crawling along the ruts that suggested the hint of a road, a spot of trees appeared in the distance. This spot of trees concealed the once flourishing homestead called the Prairie Gem. At one time, many trees not native to this area were planted, nurtured, and adored here. There were even fruit trees growing successfully and the story goes that many people would travel to the Prairie Gem just to witness the horticulture genius of Mr. Barr.

My visit to the Prairie Gem came long after its glory days. I found skeletons of trees with only a few rare survivors clinging to life. Mr. Barr's home, being consumed, bite by bite, as the elements feed opportunistically, stands as a monument to his life here. There was however, a sense of peace and well being even as the ocean of prairie grass surrendered to the gale force winds.

I found myself feeling expansive, with room to think, and permission to simply "be." I wandered around the Prairie Gem, finding photographs to cradle each moment; embracing all as it was...is... now.  When I stood before Mr. Barr's decaying home, I saw my reflection in the remnants of a structure that once held all of his hopes and dreams. My reflection in the glass caused me to ask myself, "what is it I am being shown about myself here?" "What are the qualities of this place that I, too, contain?" I was fully present...and the healing began.