SoulePapa Blogs :: At Water, In Water, Am Water

At the banks of the river, they climb and laugh and play and make noise.  I find myself staring into the current, mesmerized by the flow.  Into, over, around and down.  Unmercifully, to the sea.
I float and it holds me, suspended on time.  The water of my ancestors, evaporated into dust and rained down to us, filling pools and spilling down mountains.  The very people that worked this river and looked into it's depths to see those before them. 

The sounds of my children playing returns my attention and I warn them to be careful, the current is strong right here.  They recognize it as a force to be respected and adjust their course.  The present is where they live and I am happy to be here, in it, with them.  Maybe one day they will look and see the reflections of the past and stare at them like I do.  Now we walk the banks and swim in the pools and the kids look downstream and ask me what's around the bend.  I haven't been down there before I tell them, but it looks beautiful.  Let's go.

Comments

[Eren]

Beautiful...just beautiful.

[sarah]

lovely. I too have a strong affinity for water. (maybe cause I'm a scorpio ;P)

[Lynn]

What beautiful words to start my day ... thank you, Soulepapa. Wishing you and your lovely family another beautiful day.

[camerashymomma]

great reflections captured in that photo and beautiful words. pisces perhaps? i know i am more at home surrounded by water, be it in my kayak or just floating with peace and stillness. what lucky kids for such adventures with papa!

[Megan]

That was truely lovely.
Such lucky children to have 2 parents as creative and spiritual about life as the two of you. Learning to find beauty and respect in the world around us is one of lives most precious gifts. Too often that gift goes ungiven by parents and our world suffers every day because of that...

[kat nicholas]

sigh. i really enjoy your writing. you definitely have a knack for capturing moments whose meanings transcend time. your river looks much like one of our own, the deep river. an absolutely lovely place for drifting in a canoe and catching the occasional glimpse of a great blue heron or a feisty kingfisher. our son just turned two and is still quite fearless, so we are still quite cautious around water. but he loves it nonetheless, as do i. (it seems that fire can very much be attracted to water, being that we're both leos.) thank you for a lovely post.

[Felicia]

What a beautiful place.

[jean]

beautiful, soulepapa. How I need that water. Just knowing it is there is a gift. So much history on those banks.

[Jessie Bryson]

Rivers hold a certain majesty that no other earthly body does.

[Angel]

I love how much time you spend in nature as a family, it is inspiring!

[Julie]

oh soulepapa. soulemama and soulekids are lucky to have you.

[katie]

Beautiful. Your expresssion of the past-connection is so right . . . and the present and the future with your kids. My eyes well up. Thank you.

[Livia]

You really can write in a touching way. There is SOULe in your words. Thank you.

[Candice]

Such a beautiful place!!

[Diane]

I know our hearts take a picture in moments like these. But to be in present-moment-time is a wonderful place to be. But, to also to look back and remember and stare at the different/older reflection - and remember again and again.
So beautiful that you give a thought to those who've been there before you too.
Wonderful Soulepapa!

[SoulePapa]

kat -
fire and water - i'm a leo too!

[suzie sews]

Me and my boys..we are all water babes...totally relate to every word you say here...beautiful and it came right from the soul...no pun intended!!!
Suzie Sews

[Sandra Evertson]

Just about the best thing I've see, a few posts down, your son playing that upside down guitar! I bet the Music was Wonderful!
Sandra Evertson

[flamehair]

I started crying after reading this entry and I'm not quite sure why (I'm definitely not feeling sad.) I'm not usually moved to tears by anything I read so your words must be pretty special indeed. Thanks for a lovely start to my day.

[amanda]

My favorite of your posts, dear one. Thank you.

[kate]

soulepapa, you are as inspiring as your wife is. you have a creative way of thought that makes my mind think, love it

[Rachel Haynes]

you.... are.... a beautiful... writer... man... father... person.

[karisma]

Soulepapa, I have really enjoyed your posts this week. You and Amanda surely are a Soule couple. Just beautiful. Thankyou for sharing your family and thoughts. Can't wait for the book to come out. Love and Hugs to you all.

[MiraclesHappen]

I don't know if the two of you have thought of collaborating on a book, but with your writing talents and Amanda's artistic talents, you would create a piece that people would not only want to own, but one they would revisit often.

[Paula]

Pure poetry...

[Frank]

I haven't read the other comments but surely someone has said (a thousand times?) that Soule Papa should also be writing a book?! If not, let my voice count for a thousand in saying, "Soule Papa should be writing a book!"

[Jessica Umana]

I have only just found this beautiful piece of writing and I had to leave a comment. I felt as if I was at the waters edge with you, feeling and hearing the water splashes and the sound of your childrens voices. As parents it's hard to answer our children when they ask what's around the bend, but we both know it will be filled with adventure and love.