This is a piece written in multiple points of view that each offer a new outlook to the same story.
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Do you know that place, the one where all worries seem to blow from your shoulders and become feathers in the wind? That marvelous place that you find, by some great blessing, in reality, or by will of a strong imagination in your dreams? For you it might be a great, wide open pasture filled with every species of wild flower, bird, and butterfly. Plenty of space to run free and feel the soft earth under your feet and the tickle of tall grass, blowing in the wind between your fingers. For others, it might be beside the sea, lying on the warm sand as you listen to the waves come crashing onto the shore and then recede back into the deep. Maybe it’s in the comfort of your home: relaxing by the fireplace as you read your favorite novel and hear the snap, crackle, and pop of the fire roaring and warming the cold and snowy winter night.
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“I stand
on the shore and watch as Father helps Mother out of the boat. Mother said I could take Spot on our outing as
long as I watch after him and make sure he doesn’t get into any trouble. Now I have to run after him because he keeps
trying to jump into the river. I yell to
Mary and Fred to ask where they think they’re going because Fred is rowing the
wrong way. Apparently they had already
planned to go on their own outing and now they are leaving me alone with Mother
and Father. I hate being the center of
their attention-- they never let me have any fun. I wanted to go exploring in the woods, and I
had just spotted the perfect climbing tree when I hopped off the boat.”
“I still don’t understand the big deal about
being ‘in love’—that’s what Mary says she is with Fred. It’s just gross the way they hold hands and
always go off on walks together.
I plan to never get married. I
want to travel the world as a pirate or tradesman (I still can’t decide) on my
own ship, with my own crew, and Spot.
Yes, I’ll have the most wonderful adventures that way, adventures I
wouldn’t be able to have if I had a wife around all the time. That would just
be awful.”
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“Peter called out from the shore asking where
Mary and Fred were off to. Fred yelled
back saying they were going to row a little further downstream because he knew
a magnificent lookout that Mary would love to see. He placed his hand on Mary’s as he said so and
then turned and gazed into her deep hazel eyes with a tender smile, as Peter
pretended to gag on the shore and ran away.
Fred began to row downstream again as Mary let
her hand flow in the ripples of the water.
She peered over the side of the canoe and saw some small fish swim under
the boat and dart ahead of them. In the
air, she watched in awe as a hawk flew from the trees and soared high above the
mountains until Mary could no longer see it.
Mary continued to gaze at the sky and the sun shone down on the river
and casted shadows of clouds on the hills.
“What are
you thinking about?” Fred asked her.
“Oh
nothing.” Mary replied with a cheerful sigh and removed her hand from the water
as Peter kept rowing.
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Fred had
just proposed to Mary last week and the entire family was giddy with joy when Mary
came home that afternoon to tell them the news.
There wedding would be in a few months, but Mother had already begun to
plan the tiniest of details—what color were the table pieces to be? Would the
cake be frosted white to keep tradition, or pale blue, as that was Mary’s
favorite color? What would the invitations look like and when be the most
appropriate time to send them? Etcetera.
Mary was
thrilled—she knew Fred would be a splendid husband, but she was slightly
overwhelmed. She still felt that she was
only a girl, a naïve creature with much to learn about the vast world that
stood before her. Fred had already
started to talk about their children and Mary was unsure if she would succeed
in fulfilling her duties as a wife, let alone a mother. There was too much to think about with the
wedding, their future and all the adventures and responsibilities that it entailed,
and all the daily chores that still needed to be maintained in the present
day. Now, as she sat in a canoe in the
middle of the wilderness, she tried to release all her thoughts in the wind and
be still, knowing she was alive, well, and loved.
----------------------------------------Do you know that place, the one where all worries seem to blow from your shoulders and become feathers in the wind? That marvelous place that you find, by some great blessing, in reality, or by will of a strong imagination in your dreams? For you it might be a great, wide open pasture filled with every species of wild flower, bird, and butterfly. Plenty of space to run free and feel the soft earth under your feet and the tickle of tall grass, blowing in the wind between your fingers. For others, it might be beside the sea, lying on the warm sand as you listen to the waves come crashing onto the shore and then recede back into the deep. Maybe it’s in the comfort of your home: relaxing by the fireplace as you read your favorite novel and hear the snap, crackle, and pop of the fire roaring and warming the cold and snowy winter night.
Consider the place that Mary found—rocking
gently in a small canoe, the love of your life before you, rowing you
downstream on the most beautiful river you have ever seen. The water is as clear as glass and the fish
swim freely as birds chirp their songs from the trees. You are surrounded by forest, hills, and
mountains, all green and blooming in the fresh spring air. The breeze rustles the leaves and whistles
through the valleys. You see your
brother, playing on the shore and you Mother and Father sitting together
chatting while they unpack a homemade picnic.
You can almost feel the love of God surrounding you, and all you need to
do is sit and take it all in. Everything
is peaceful for once in your life.
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