A Confidence . . .

Stormy Lake Captain Cook Recreation Park October 2022

"Hope is not the closing of my eyes to the difficulties, the risks or the failures. It is a trust that - if I fail now - I shall not fail forever; and if I am hurt, I shall be healed. It is a trust that life is good, love is powerful and the future is full of promise."                                    - Anonymous

        *                                  *                                   *                                  *                            *                              *

Autumn is my favorite time of year. The summer rush is quieted, the air is sharp in my lungs and cool on my skin, the road and trail systems are less trafficked and the colors . . . mesmerize.

A few days ago I took this photo of Stormy Lake through deciduous trees which exemplifies the change in seasons; and in my mind, is a beautiful visual indicative of the above quote.     

As much as I welcome this gold and orange and scarlet season, I am not yet ready for the freezing white that follows this colorful time. I spent my summer working along the Bering and Beaufort Seas where fog or low lying grey obscured light from the amber orb in its gorgeous blue sky. But as Fall is decidedly giving way, I've no choice but to brace myself for the inevitable.

Winter in Alaska is not for the faint of heart. Heavy layers, clunky boots, studded tires, the ever-ready shovel and bags of sand, flying tumultuous skies in small aircraft that shuttle me off to remote job locations speak to the challenging realities I face in the months ahead. But these, as well as other struggles I'll no doubt encounter, each work to pull on strengths I may not otherwise realize - but for these difficulties.

Navigating the emotional and even spiritual winter's of life are not always so easily met. For I find that battling a tangible hardship is far easier to confront. If I wake to mountains of snow, I simply layer up, grab my shovel and I quickly see the end result of my hard labor - though I have to repeat my efforts through the long winter. But, when I strap into the seat of a Cessna Conquest in preparation to fly off into the snowy and windy atmosphere toward destinations hundreds of miles from . . . everything, my physical abilities fail, and I must draw on an inner strength as I am forced to entrust my safety to another as they fly me to live, temporarily, among strangers. 

Similarly, when I confront a failure, whether another's or . . . my own, or a disappointment or a betrayal my perspective, on what feels an arduously freezing winter season of sadness, apathy, depression, anger, loneliness and even - hopelessness, often clouds over in my tumultuous mind and stormy circumstances. But in these situations, an inner strength grows as I develop emotional muscles and spiritual endurance.

Hope truly - Springs - forth in spite of cold doubts that loom gray in their attempt to obscure the warmth and Light that grows my soul and enriches my life. Hope breaks through the storms of human frailty and reminds me that . . . 
                                     Love is powerful
                                            Failure is not forever
                                                  Hurts heal
                                                        Life is good
And, I can trust with a confidence in my heart as I learn that the future is filled . . . with promise.