From my winter home,
because the trees are bare of leaf,
I can see right across to the far side
of the Waikato Basin to Te Aroha,
 Mountain of Love.

Today I travelled east with the mountain before me.
A sad and poignant day.
I was going to the funeral of Kevin, son of my dear cousin Lyn.
I was travelling on the very road where the tragedy had struck
leaving a family bereft. 

Have you ever noticed a beautiful synchronicity
with the earth when we grieve?
Or is it that my senses are alerted and I notice nature
and translate what I see into signs and parables.
As I drove along the highway
a huge cloud formed over Te Aroha. 

It began to take the form of some angelic guardian
looming over this place where Kevin lived his rich life. 

Do not fear
it seemed to say.
Papatuanuku
knows your sorrow. 

A circle closes.
To be sad means we have loved.
To die means we have lived.
I feel such gratitude
for sharing in these mysteries of living
in this universe that we scarcely understand. 
Kevin greatly lived and loved.
A circle closes.

Have you ever noticed how mountains always
look smaller up close.
As a grieving family gathers close
there is the healing laughter of memory
as well as tears.

As I left Te Aroha
the clouds were there still,
but looked like happy dancing puppies frolicking with joy,

and sun tipped clouds 

and rays of light that spoke of hope. 

At home I looked to see Te Aroha
but instead one
rainbow
glowed
through the misty rain..
a parable of love.


My love to all those Kev left behind.


xoxoxo