Glorious Sunlight Chases Gloomy Thoughts Away
Reciprocal Nature prompt, 1st week of April: Shining Sunlight.
I’m trapped in a wilderness cabin deep in the woods. Three youngsters, ranging in age from four to nine, bored stiff. Incessant raindrops pelt the roof for three days straight. Board games, books, pantomimes exhausted, no longer entertaining. We’ve started making paper airplanes to throw at one another. 🌧
“Please, God, rescue me. Send the sun so we can escape this prison.”
We love this cabin. That’s why we come here every summer. Our vacation limited to one or two weeks. Whatever precious time we can get off from work. I’m alone with the kids this week. My husband will join me after the weekend. We can’t escape by going to town. Our only way out of here is by canoe or motorboat. The water is too choppy in this storm to even think of it. Our lives exist at the whims of Mother Nature.
There are no roads neither electricity. No TV to broadcast a movie even. No phone to call for help. We’re on our own. There is a lodge in the nearby inlet that rents cabins to guests. They have a radio phone there. To reach it however we would have to use the motorboat or canoe. The other access is a scramble through a virgin forest over boulder strewn land. 🌲
“Come on, guys. Can’t you play with your toys quietly?” I entertain a fleeting horrible thought. “They’re lucky I don’t do them in.”
“O, Sunshine! The most precious gold to be found on earth.” Roman Payne ☀️
The afternoon of the third day, I don’t hear rain anymore. We run outside to the lakeshore. The water is blue and calm. There is no wind. We can’t contain our excitement. Sandwiches made. Water bottles filled. Bob gathers a fishing pole and tackle. Chris grabs the net. I push the long canoe into the lake. Paul has our paddles. We launch in anticipation of adventure.
We come to a crescent. Lily pads hug the shore. Bob sits in the bow. I steer at the stern. I stop paddling so we can float. Bob casts a line. The bobber rests on the surface of the water. The fish should be hungry after this stormy weather. We wait in anticipation. 🙏
The line jerks. Bob has hooked a big fish. He plays the line until the fish tires. He reels it in. Chris readies the net. It’s a good sized bass, what a catch. We attach it to a stringer and tow it behind the canoe.👌
Following the shoreline of an island, Bob gets another tug on the line. This one is a fighter. My son manages to bring it alongside our craft. It’s a huge northern. It barely fits into the net. Another fish hooked on our stringer. We continue our slow paddle. Bob has another furious tug. He lets the line run out. At the end of the battle we find its another northern. What a day this is turning out to be. 😊
Fishermen in a motorboat across the way shout, “Leave some fish in the water for us, okay?”
We laugh and paddle back towards our cabin.
“If you want to see the sunshine, you have to weather the storm.” Frank Lane
When the glorious Sun appears, it chases away any gloom or depression. It uplifts your Spirit at once. It restores the energy flowing through your body. Life takes on new positive vibes. You can’t wait to get involved in any task that arises. All feels well and good in your world. 😀
To me, that is one of the Sun’s greatest benefits offered to mankind. Yes, the rays give us vitamin D. They encourage plants to bear fruit. The Sun gives life to all growing things. But it has an immediate effect on our mental state. It promotes happiness and well being. 💖
People flock outside when the Sun shines in all its glory. They love to go to the beach to play, swim or relax in chairs. All sports on land or water are performed better in its presence. Patients tend to heal faster when placed beneath its light. Everyone seems to laugh more and are in a happier mood. 🥰
“Keep your face to the sun and you will never see the shadows.” Helen Keller
This article is written in response to Nature Editor Sahil Patel’s prompt — Shining Sunlight.
Please read this powerful poem by Dr. Gabriella Korosi, which shines brightly like the Sun.
Lu Skerdoo pays a heartwarming tribute to her friend, Karen. She was a bright Sun to those who knew her.