Encounter

It had been sunny and even a bit warm, the perfect fall day. That was up until the very second she decided to leave the house. As soon as she zipped her jacket and opened the door, it all changed in an instant. Suddenly it was windy, blustery even, and a few clouds had appeared in the sky.

“Oh well, it’s just a ten-minute walk to the store, and I can use the exercise. I’ll be fine without my car.” She had just stepped from the driveway to the sidewalk when the wind picked up yet again.

“Great.”

Then out of nowhere, a small pile of leaves rose up and blew past her ear.

“Weird,” she thought, “a bit high for leaves.”

She took a few steps forward and it happened again.

“Follow me,” ever so faint. Maybe it was just her imagination, but she took a glance behind her to be sure. Her eyes confirmed what she was thinking, so she kept walking forward.

Not a full minute later, the leaves brushed past her ear again. Then, the voice again, very faint, not even a whisper, “Follow me.”

The voice was so sweet and gentle, and somehow like the sound of flowing water. Her gut reaction was to obey as she felt a burn in her heart and a giddy anticipation within herself. She took a step forward and the leaves continued to rustle at her feet leading her straight ahead. One moment she was at a street corner, in the next she found herself in a garden. All sense of time was completely lost to her, she didn’t know how long it had taken to get here. Gone was the recollection of the errand that had originally drawn her out of the house.

All at once she was in total awe. Her senses raged within her. Eyes wide with wonder at the most beautiful and vibrant colors she had ever seen. Ears taking in the sweetest melody she had ever heard. The most pleasing aroma filled her nostrils, and there was even a faint taste of apple on her tongue. Steadily being drawn in, her fingers now caressed a flower petal. It was like liquid silk, and seemed to pour over her fingertips. She simply did not have the words in her vocabulary to accurately describe anything she was currently experiencing.

“Where am I,” she thought to herself.

Once again came the voice like water.

“This is just a glimpse, a taste of what I have prepared for you Beloved. I know that things are hard right now. You feel like you barely know how to keep on. But come here any time. Any time at all, you now have an open invitation. You will have to walk through more hard times, but this is a resting place for you. Drop all your burdens and drink it all in. Let it affect you and give you peace. Peace, yet strength to go fight the battles you have to face.”

Then all was completely silent. Yet, with the silence came peace, the most wonderful peace washed over and through her entire being. She had become so numb to the weight of her anxieties, that she had forgotten that they were there still there; until they were gone. All she had needed was to be carried away for a brief time and refreshed. Though she wanted to stay, she slowly backed away from the garden. Along with the newfound peace, she now had a renewed resolve within herself. The sense of defeat was gone, now she knew she could take on the rest of whatever today had to hurl at her.