When they were little, our three children played in the stream beyond the falls, sailing boats made of rhododendron leaves, and when they got a little older, they swam in the pool under the falls.
I was there Saturday morning, very early. And when I turned to go, I saw that someone had made a small cairn across the tumbling water. It guards Josh, I thought. It waits there and watches.
It's a beautiful spot, and I could imagine Josh saying, "Thank you, Mom. This was a very good place for all of us." But . . .
Don't say it's not really so bad. Because it is. Death is awful, demonic. *** People sometimes think things are more awful than they really are. Such people need to be corrected -- gently, eventually. But no one thinks death is more awful than it is.
~ Nicholas Wolterstorff, Lament for a Son
ahhh, prayer cairn. yes. I watches over Josh, I'm sure. And, actually, you too, for prayer cairns carry the prayers of travellers and you are on this journey too.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad the cairn is there.
ReplyDeleteI love knowing that someone felt the sacredness of the place, and of the priceless gift that you have placed in that water, and built that marker. Beautiful.
ReplyDeleteSending love to you. I love that quote: "Because it is." Amen.
I love cairns. Lots of good memories in this beautiful place but Wolterstorff's poem is haunting and the last line will stay with me awhile.
ReplyDeleteyes, death is awful. a peaceful place to honor Josh, but...oh, the missing...
ReplyDeletehugs and love.