Pushed

A medium size brown leaf slides easily across the snow. In some small ways its stem acts like a rudder keeping it somewhat on some course, unknown to me and maybe unknown to the leaf. Suddenly a puff of wind lifts it into air where it sails some 20 feet before it again settles on the snow. 
    One animal who seems un-bothered by the wind is the great bison. It seems mostly unfazed by the wind and may stand or walk directly into it. Perhaps it looks forward to the blowing. It is hard to say. If I can come close to enjoying the winter wind it happens when I am inside and looking outside at it. 
    I look and now see that the leaf is long gone as I’ve been writing this. I hope it can rest in some peace after its’ blowing as it moves to its’ final destination. 
    I suspect human life can at times feel like this; blown about by unwanted winds without having any choice in the matter. That ‘out of control’ feeling never seems to bring comfort. When it gets too bad we have substances that help us weather ‘the storm’.
    Can this blowing teach us anything? Yes but it is hard to learn in weakness. However, weakness often provides us our best opportunity for learning. Without regular learning we become like a stagnant pond, diminishing life for all those who drink of us.

The Hillside Oldster
By Don Berheim