Come Into the Shade

Come into the shade. It's beautiful and warm. The light is playing on the purple lantana. I glimpse the butterfly land for intermittent rests in her favorite place. The dragonflies hover and flutter over the lily pads in the water. And the sun reflects on the sage petals just lightly flickering with sweet softness.

 

And it looks like you're getting too much sun.

 

What until now embraced you in comforting warmth has now turned a corner and threatens to scorch and burn.  The damage will be real and everlasting.  Come into the shade. 

 

It's 12° cooler and offers some relief. It's not bursting with adventure but it's cooling and soothing. No drama to be found; just healing I'm afraid. Come into the shade. 

 

From here it's sweet and easy to watch the clouds move silently across the sky. From this peaceful place, you have the time and even the desire to appreciate the sensation of the breeze sweeping across your face. You can manage to look up in the protection of this shady spot. The strong and sturdy tree like a sexy protector stands between you and sure destruction. Come into the shade. 

 

I'm looking right at you and I see that you're being burned. Don't you feel it yet?  No, not quite registered yet. Maybe a little but you don't believe you. Your teacher brain does what it's trained to do and corrects your child's wayward emotions. "That doesn't hurt; you're fine." When will that tingling sensation intensify to the point of undeniability? You're enduring motionless even though you don't have to. I marvel that you appear planted like a tree but without the key benefit of shade.

 

Did no one tell you? You can be majestic like a tree and fluid like a river. There is rest for you. Not just for everyone else. There is comfort for you. There is cool, sweet relief for you to slather selfishly on. Dive into the crisp waters and swim in the lake under the shade. Lavish your skin with kind, moist dew drops still lingering untouched well into the late morning and go sit in the shade. 

 

There will be a time soon again for standing in the sun, fiercely planted despite the withering light beating down. And you will withstand the scorching heat all the more after a bout of refreshment. 

 

This is the cycle of life. Go with the flow according to the time and temperature. Come into the shade. So that you will victoriously bear the inevitable fire next time.