The nature of things

This morning I got slapped up alongside my head, but in a good way. The credit union that issues one of my credit cards ran into an issue, or two, and a number of their Visa cards were declined in a number of locations. Mine was declined at a Holiday gas station, thrice. This did not put me in a happy mood, but I wasn't desperate for gas so I moved on to pick up our Community Supported Agriculture share. The farm's manager pulled in as I was parking and we chatted briefly. She expressed sympathy for my frustration and asked if I had enough gas and/or money. All of a sudden, I felt like a cared for member of a community. These days that's all too rare a feeling, at least for me. I hadn't really expected that degree of kindness and I suspect that says more about me and my attitude these days than I'm comfortable with. Would I have offered assistance to someone I was only casually acquainted with? I've become more accustomed to dealing with a world in which businesses claim to be all about the customer but limit real concerns to "we apologize for any convenience." So, in addition to considering looking for a better credit union, I need to make some major adjustments in my attitude and expectations.

skunk cabbage along country road

Photo by J. Harrington

Next point: You may have read that nature can help us heal. Based on this morning's events, I can vouch for it. I took a scenic, gravel road, route as I headed away from the farm. The leaves are now about the size of a mouses ear. Since I'd brought my camera along, I pointed the Jeep toward the township road ditch surrounded by skunk cabbage and marsh marigolds, pulled over, and took some pictures. Farther down the road we took a peek at this spring's crop of lambs and beyond them watched a rooster pheasant scurry into the roadside weeds. All of a sudden I was less perturbed about gas, credit cards and the general state of the world and its faulty technology. I hope I've learned a lesson, that less time should be spent finding what's wrong with the world and more time spent enjoying what's right. That probably means lots less time spent on social media.

marsh marigold and skunk cabbage

Photo by J. Harrington

To a Marsh Hawk in Spring

By Henry David Thoreau

There is health in thy gray wing, 

Health of nature’s furnishing. 

Say, thou modern-winged antique, 

Was thy mistress ever sick? 

In each heaving of thy wing 

Thou dost health and leisure bring, 

Thou dost waive disease and pain 

And resume new life again.

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