and in beauty, peace

the sun shining so brightly; making the sky THAT much bluer, the trees THAT much greener.  the contrast in colors never fails to inspire me with gratitude.  it is beautiful and, after two weeks of rainy, cold, snowy weather, the sudden twenty degree jump is HOT!  and just like that, the raindrops begin to fall.  big, soft drops that fall gently down from a bright, sunlit sky.  without thought, i strip naked and lie flat on my back on the deck and let the drops slide down my skin.  the sun shines hot on my body, the rain cools the heat to bearable, and, silently, i call for the heat to burn the dross away, the rain to wash me clean, for the sun and the rain to rinse this heaviness from my soul.  i close my eyes and join in silent harmony with the goldfinches singing in the trees...and rest. 
at times i feel like i should have been a celtic druid or some sort of mystic.  not that i want to believe in strange and terrible gods or take part in weird rituals - just the connection that exists between me, nature, and God.  i feel close to God in nature.  yesterday, on the deck, i felt more peace than i have felt in a long time.  perhaps there was something symbolic in coming before Heaven 'naked and poor' and letting His sonshine burn and His rain wash.  perhaps it's all in my head but there is still a residue of peace within my soul.