Living in flat indiana, man has a dominant feature over the land. We cultivate it, roam it, can see it all, stand atop of it all, and in many ways 'direct' the land of its behavior. We cannot control the weather, but we can control the land.
Here, things are Different. I can only see so far as the land allows me to see - which is, in all honesty, not very far. I live humbly in the shadows of giants: Mountains that are only step stools to the mammoth beasts that lie beyond their tips. They control when day begins and ends. The mountains control where you walk, and how fast - their rises and rocks impeding or making impossible certain paths I otherwise would love to walk. The rocky lumps direct the waterflow, the practice of business, the availability of heat and Food. Even farmers, of which there are many, are forced to work around the land, rather than upon it and with it.
It's been a rainy, rainy few days. Hasn't stopped raining, and doesn't look likely to stop soon. Every burst of thunder rolls around the mountains, bouncing off of walls and resonating in such a compounded way, I hardly recognize it as thunder. I've woken up, not a few times, thinking some thunder was a rock-slide and the lightening was my final light.
It's a whole different land here. I am sure, for some of you who have lived in mountains, this is no big discovery. For me, however, raised in the tamed and refined farmlands of Indiana - it's a new thing to learn: how to be in deference, in humility, with every waking step, and every sleeping breath. I am learning how to bow my head to a strength greater than I understand, larger than I am capable of conceiving. Thunder will not bring rock slides. The mountains are much stronger than that.
Ah, a small peek of sunshine. With any luck, it'll come and fill up the day. I've had enough of the rain. Makes it difficult to hike around & do the things I love to do.
Love to you all, on this Rainy Himalayan Morning.
Z
