(not necessarily in that order)
I was out for my morning walk, glanced up at this tree, and came to an abrupt stop.
After all, it’s the height of summer, with temperatures once again approaching triple digits. And yet, there it was — a reminder that summer really doesn’t last forever.
And neither does anything else on this physical plane.
How absolutely glorious it was to set out for my morning walk with rain coming down!
Let’s hear it for moisture laden air and negative ions; when I got home I opened all the windows to let them into our home as well.
It wasn’t much rain, considering the months of drought and heat, but it most definitely lifted my spirits.
Look who I encountered as I set out for my walk this morning!
Of course, we didn’t actually walk together, but it was lovely starting my morning with a little deer communion.
I’m pretty sure these are the same fawns who were born next to our house a month or maybe six weeks ago; the photo below caught one of them resting by the house about a week later. They start out so vulnerable, so it’s nice to see them growing strong and healthy.
I’ve been enjoying starting my days with a walk so much that I didn’t want to miss this morning, even though I was scheduled to sing for Sunday service.
So, I left extra early — with Sunday clothes, sandals, and breakfast shake in my backpack — and walked to the amphitheater!
It felt really good being out in the beautiful morning sunshine and all of a sudden a song from childhood popped into my head: “I love to go a-wandering along the mountain track, and as I go, I love to sing, my knapsack on my back.” The only other verse I remembered was: “Oh, may I go a-wandering until the day I die! And, may I always laugh and sing, beneath God’s clear blue sky!”
I felt so happy as I sang it inwardly the whole way!
Of course, I had to look it up after I got back home. Here’s a video — in case you somehow have never heard the song — and the complete lyrics. What a wonderful example of joyfully singing while feeling at one with the world!
The Happy Wanderer
I love to go a-wandering,
Along the mountain track,
And as I go, I love to sing,
My knapsack on my back.
Chorus:
Val-deri, Val-dera,
Val-deri,
Val-dera-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha
Val-deri, Val-dera.
My knapsack on my back.
I love to wander by the stream
That dances in the sun,
So joyously it calls to me,
“Come! Join my happy song!”
I wave my hat to all I meet,
And they wave back to me,
And blackbirds call so loud and sweet
From ev’ry green wood tree.
High overhead, the skylarks wing,
They never rest at home
But just like me, they love to sing,
As o’er the world we roam.
Oh, may I go a-wandering
Until the day I die!
Oh, may I always laugh and sing,
Beneath God’s clear blue sky!