It was a fine day on Sunday.
The mingling music on the new playlist, the blue skies and freak return of summer from recent past carried us to Claythorpe on a wave of excitement. The monkey chatter that can compete in town life was being left behind. We breezed into the car park and as soon as the car doors were shut home all went silent. Any anxiety evaporated and merged with the stillness. It simply had nowhere to go.
Stepping into the 100 acre field felt like free-falling. No borders and or boundaries to hedge one in. What I viewed in the middle was a lone standing tree that reminded me of a Buddhist writing I’m fond of and refer to for encouragement. In it it states that worthy persons deserve to be called so because they are not carried away by the eight winds: prosperity, decline, disgrace, honour, praise,censure, suffering and pleasure. They are neither elated by prosperity nor grieved by decline. It represents the importance of being rooted in the soils of one’s life. The gift of not being swept up by transient experiences and holding true to your direction. It is there that lies the answer to true progress. This tree stood strong and proud, it’s prominence took centre stage in the landscape. As I walked forward along the path I reminded myself the importance of this symbolism. That it is so easy to be distracted by other events, thoughts, people that can take your eye off the ball.
We landed pitch perfect at a pub that backed onto a cricket pitch.
Ahhh… the beauty when
leather
hits
willow…
The cider and all sparkled and shone in the sunshine. A few individuals regrettably seemed more interested in the sound of their own voices and impressing each other than appreciating the wonder of what surrounded them but hey, walk away, a place and peace can be found elsewhere.
There’s something quite captivating in cricket. A measured response to taking on challenges. All players respect a quiet calm in the lead up to the main event which is replaced with a sharp focus when the bowler is about to take his first move. Then it becomes an entirely different beast. Precision, accuracy and seeing how far you can reach. What a great approach to life. When it counts have a clear objective. Move towards your target. Go all out to break through the barriers….and beyond that? Take your time and respect others.
On our tranquil return we came by some waterside. The soothing flow and gentle rhythms came and went with a soft repetition. Surrendering to the ripples of delight and all that surrounded us being oh so natural.
As the engine sprang to life and the playlist resumed some of it’s vigour we left leaving something that wasn’t needed behind. Nothing that can be pinned down but our return was lighter. Stillness and serenity had been given back to us.
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