Sun Rays Dance

Sun rays dance among the trees creating a unique relationship with the shadows hiding in broad view throughout the forest.

The sun rays flit, flirt, jump, twirl, and twist with sharpness and grace, highlighting all the goings on of every living creature, every rock, every stream of water meandering on its journeyed purpose within the forest.

Strong, bright light shines and dark shadows fall between the blades of grass, the low hanging branches of mulberry bushes, and the majestic redwood trunks that hold up the towering canopies of leaves that cool, hide, and protect all that encompasses life in the forest.

Who knew that in the shadows under the bushes a snake slithered in the grass, becoming an intimate part of life in the forest, even while hidden by fallen leaves dried by the rays of an autumn sun? Who knew that things unseen can have such powerful impact on life itself? 

The leaves crackle and shake as the snake almost silently moves along the forest floor giving warnings that something may not be quite right. Every now and then a glimpse of the beautiful patterns of its skin and the soliloquy of its passing offers peace and security that all is indeed well. This characterization might be fine as long as one understands there are many varieties of snakes - some good, some not so good.  

Snakes in the forest bring to mind the friends left behind a long time ago. The beauty that appeared in the friendship, well that was an illusion too. You know, those friends that slither through the common and the intimate events of our lives... like family, they belong there - one with us and for us, until one day, the truth shines through when things done in the dark come out in the light.

The warnings are there like crackling leaves and rattlers shaking and so is the beauty and the connection that friendship brings forth with its own version of peace and security until the earth shattering, life changing reality shows itself like a snake before and after it strikes.

What happened? The questions bombard our thoughts. Did I step to close without looking, did I lose awareness of myself, did I just give in to the outward appearance while the warning bells rang over and over in my ears? Did the simplicity of nature and nurture dull my senses and leave me open to being bitten and left to die, alone and afraid.

At a time when love, career, family, hope might be falling apart and the warm feelings that come from a supportive, caring friend is all that is needed to survive and make the most of life, it's at that point that we find that a friend might be nothing other than a cold-blooded predator, that snake lifting its head in haughtiness, baring its fangs, grabbing, and poisoning the one thing left that was important - the friendship.

Betrayal of trust by a friend may be seen as a snake worthy antic. Hopes and dreams are dashed and disappear after the heated aftermath of words said and unsaid change life's experiences into burning cinders falling to the ground like leaves from the trees in the forest.

Who knew that the sun's bright light would create the shadows that could hide the cold, harsh realities that make up life... the snakes in the grass, the friendships lost.

Who knew that as the sun moved across the sky, the shadows would give way to the light and be no more, and all that was hidden would show itself, good or bad, before darkness falls and gives respite.

The ugly duckling of lost opportunity transforming into a beautiful swan called Second Chance when the new day dawns. 

The odd-looking anteater digging into holes filled with swarms of ants that could sting with attitude stumbling into the sleek gazelle strutting with its head held high crowned with antlers that reach to the sky, triumphant.

Deserts filled with cactus sucking whatever joy can be found from the hard, dry dirt and then giving way to mountain valleys filled with rivers of water flowing through leaving an abundance of happiness in its wake.

The bright sunlight and the dark shadows live in harmony just as the life that we live... the joy and sorrow, laughter and tears, happiness and sadness, success and failure, triumph and defeat.

So dance with the rays of the sun. Let its light show you the way past the dark shadows that lay between the grass, and the bushes, and the tree trunks. Hide in its shadows, when necessary, for protection from all that makes up the life of the forest and wait for the dawn of a new day.