Find beauty in our walk - a story of rain and clover

On the bleakest, darkest day we can find beauty if we open our eyes to find it.

Today’s posting is my 50th and I would like to commemorate this round number with a special story from my niece, Melanie. Melanie is the youngest of a tight family trio. The oldest clump of grandchildren on my side of the family, Elise, Nicholas, and Melanie stuck together like glue, especially in the years before the next wave of grandchildren came along to provide diversion.

Buddies, Nick and Melanie played together since they were both, well, old enough to play. The summer of 2009, Nick worked as life guard at the pool where Melanie served as manager, and he lived at her home. The two shared many memories, and I am sure secrets that summer.

Last weekend, Melanie took a trip to the Smokey Mountains with some friends. It was her first time in Tennessee since the days that followed Nick’s passing, and her first time hiking in the woods since last fall when he died. Nick became his true self when he walked in the woods; on the hiking trails, his spirits soared and the trails of the Smokey’s were no stranger to his boot prints.

Rain poured on the plans and spirits of Melanie and her friends last weekend. They found themselves stuck in the cabin looking out at unseasonably cold weather, gray skies and dripping air. Mel told me that to be in Tennessee, and in sight of the mountains made her miss her cousin more than ever. Grief’s pain gripped her and she longed for more time with Nick.

Despite dreary weather, Mel, her boyfriend, Troy, and friend, Amanda set out for a hike on the Chimney Tops trail. This is a tough hike that is not long, but features a sharp elevation gain. A hike Nick loved. They ascended as the rain descended, and strangely, Melanie started to feel emotional burdens lift. She said she felt peaceful and lighter as they trudged up the muddy path.

Hiking companion, Amanda holds a degree in plant biology and identified greenery along the path. The mountains had not fully awakened into spring, but Amanda found enough new plants to keep them entertained. As they hiked up the steep path, Melanie said she felt the comfortable and relaxed feeling that she would have if Nick were around. Only two years her junior, Nick and Melanie maintained a special camaraderie.

Just past a fork where the Appalachian Trail splits to the left and Chimney Tops veers right, the hikers stopped for a breath. Melanie needed a quiet moment to stop and reflect on her memories. She looked down and thought she saw clover beneath her feet. She asked Amanda about clover so early in spring and high in the mountains. Amanda, catching up, said it would be impossible to see clover at this elevation and so soon following winter.

Sure enough, as she approached, Amanda identified the field of green where Melanie was standing, about two thirds up the Chimney Tops trail, as clover. Those who knew Nick, know of the special place this plant held in his heart. He could spot a four-leaf variety in the smallest patch of clover. He named his beloved dog, Clover, and I wrote of their connection in an earlier post:

On the darkest and dreariest of days, gray clouds may drip misery, and wind may chill to the bone, but beauty abides where we seek it. Around us there is beauty if we open ourselves to find it, just as Melanie did.
Oprah Winfrey describes a spiritual person as one with an open heart.
As I close this round-numbered post, I will take the liberty of repeating one of Nick’s favorite poems that I included in a previous blog. This is a Navaho walking meditation:

I walk in beauty;
With beauty before me, I walk;
With beauty behind me, I walk;
With beauty above me, I walk;
With beauty about me, I walk;
It ends in beauty.

Walk on, my sweet boy, and keep showing us beauty.