Day 409
With my son, Jimmy, we headed up to the North Shore for the day. With a vast amount of hiking, walking and climbing, we were constantly charmed by the number of four-legged adventurers out there! From the smallest pup to Goldens galore, we stopped to meet each and every one! It was a day made for dogs and their humans!
Visiting Duluth, Gooseberry Falls and Split Rock Lighthouse were the destinations we planned to encounter, but this little plant stole the show below the great lighthouse! Tromping down the steps to the water's edge, we gazed up at the grandeur of the Split Rock in all of its splendor. After taking a moment to view the historic building, we settled in to sit on a boulder and listen to the waves. Being a Rock Hound at heart, soon I was up and in my glory, climbing all over the rocks below the great lighthouse. When I came upon the plant growing right out of the rocks, I paused in awe and wonder. We stopped to pay homage to this little example of strength and will to survive. How could anything thrive in this environment?
That brought about thoughts of human endeavors that defied the odds of growth or survival. There have been a number of people in my life who have found the gumption to move forward...one step, one day or one hurdle at a time.
A 19-year-old combat medic in Viet Nam.
A dear young girl who lost her mom and stepped in to raise her little sister.
A young wife who suddenly lost her husband and surged forward to raise her small children alone.
A woman, who lost her husband to suicide and then fought a very invasive cancer.
A young girl who lost both parents in the late 1800's and went on to graduate from college.
A woman who has opened a refuge for senior dogs and knows she must say good-bye again and again.
These people are all heroes in my eyes. They embraced their burdens and, instead of looking inward at their own pain, search outwardly for ways to survive and help others around them to heal and grow. I have learned so much from these friends and loved ones:
*Keep moving forward.
*Put others before your own pain.
*Open your heart to those who might be hurting more than you.
*Be brave for those around you.
*Keep dreaming.
That little plant could have gone unnoticed in the vast beauty of the waves, boulders and cliffs. However, in its own brave stance and will to survive, it was the vision my heart took home.
