February 7, 2024 A huge building storm is all around us. Animal behavior in the forest is set on calm. The hawk is screeching in the sky while the deer eat one bite at a time. It's the clouds that are moving, as if to be ice skating across the Carolina sky. The human sees rain in the forecast and cancels their plans for the day. We'll watch from our multiple windows hoping for the sun to reappear quickly. We all face storms. Not just the weather outdoors. Meteorologists can't stop a southern rain storm but we can listen to our mental storms. We feel them approaching and for some reason the calling is to push them away. To observe from the inner windows. It's time to start listening. To identify with the triggers while locating forgiveness.

Weather is beyond our control. When it turns bad we prepare by taking shelter. What about our mental storms? Are we given fair warning before being brutalized by a system of change? Learning how to listen, predict and prepare are issues that shouldn't be set aside. It's not out of sight out of mind. There's a reason why you had that tornado dream last night.

When trees fall... So much is still unknown. We rarely get to see who moves into the now giant hole. The rooting system of a tree and it's connection to the soil. We can learn a lot from this relationship.

Thanks for being part of the conversation I am the Poet In The Forest. A children series I penned out in the 1990s. None of it would be possible if it wasn’t for this forest in South Charlotte, NC. I talk about it so much that I thought maybe it’s time you get to meet all that inspires me. Thanks for being part of the conversation

A 70 foot tree fell to the forest floor the other day. My neighbor says it sounded like a bomb. Research shows that such a sound is very common because as its falling a vibration in the air has been created. Sure, there was a huge thud when it met the forest floor but science explains the sounds of thunder didn't start there. It was in the air.

We have special places on our daily path. Those areas that give us a moment. No pressure. No expectations. Just you being present. To find yours doesn't require a trip to the forest. Your place of receiving might be a walk through the city or sitting on the deck just listening. Your special place. When all you really want is a moment.