The Woods

Woods always look darker from the outside. Have you ever noticed that? Running the other night at dusk through Bush Park, I became concerned that between me and home was a section of dark looming trees, right along the creek. Usually I love this stretch of path because it offers shade and beauty, but this night it caused me a moment's concern as I glanced ahead and noticed how much darker it seemed ahead.

Rationalizing that it was only 5:15 pm, and there were several other walkers and joggers along the path, I decided it would not be unsafe to proceed, and so lost myself in my running thoughts once again. I was about halfway through the wooded part when I realized how much light was coming through the trees. It was truly a dusky kind of beautiful in there.

It reminded me of the days when I was a camp counselor leading the nature hike and Canyonview Camp. We had a beautiful path that led from the creek at the bottom of the canyon, up a steep wooded hillside, opening into a gorgeous meadow (with the best wild blackberry patch on the planet.) As we climbed into the open meadow, we could see the forest on the far side. It always looked so foreboding from the outside. A tall, dark, wall of fir trees that seemed to be solid from end to end. One could only imagine that the inside of the forest was just as thick and dark.

However, when me and my troops of little bodies followed the path into the woods with our blackberry-stained mouths. We found exactly the opposite of thick and dark. With little sunlight to spur growth on the interior, the only parts of the trees that grew thickly were the very tops and the sides which seemed foreboding from the outside. Inside, this created a vaulted ceiling affect. As if a person were walking through a natural cathedral. Sunlight streaming in through the high branches and creating patches of light in pools all around. The delicate fronds of fern inviting passers-by to look closer, explore, discover.

The forest at camp was one of my very favorite spots on this planet, and running through Bush Park at dusk the other night reminded me of one of my favorite life-lessons: The woods always look darker from the outside.

What woods are you concerned about today? Is there a season approaching, or a situation looming, that sparks fear of thick darkness? Are you concerned that passing through may not be altogether "safe"? Take heart, when once you begin down the path, you may find it to have unexpected patches of light, places of beauty, joy and discovery - that can only be found by having the courage to walk through the wall of tall, dark firs, and finding within a hushed and holy place for your soul, even in the midst of shadows.