How religious inquiry helped save a wedding marked by sickness: Excerpt from Looking forward to Dragonflies

Excerpt from Watching For Dragonflies, by Suzanne Marriott

The subsequent day we determine to present the river a attempt. I scout out a brief path to the river that’s appropriate for Michael to stroll, and we set off, carrying our L.L. Bean seashore tent formed like a half dome, two blow-up “chairs,” an air mattress, some plums and marshmallows, water, and issues to learn.

 The path proves to be advantageous, and we each get right down to the river simply. Michael wears a pair of water sandals that work nicely for him out and in of the water. He takes the rubber covers off the ends of his climbing poles and, utilizing the uncovered metallic factors, is ready to keep stability nicely as he walks each on the uneven path and over the pebbles and rocks on the river backside. 

We discover a pretty place on a sandy strip near the water’s edge to place up our little shelter from the solar, whose direct rays could be too sizzling for Michael. I’m happy we thought via what we would want and managed to carry the whole lot with us; it appears to be like as if we’re enhancing within the space of preparedness. Close by, near shore, is a pure pool within the river, fashioned by a big redwood stump at one finish and slightly stone bar on the different. The water flows slowly, its inexperienced shade echoing the inexperienced boughs of the redwood timber, their robust trunks furry with reddish-brown bark. 

We spend the vast majority of our time within the river. Michael finds that so long as most of his physique is roofed by cool water, he does nicely. In actual fact, he even feels he can stroll virtually usually as a result of the water retains his legs chilly and his physique temperature down. He wears a hat and darkish glasses to guard his head and face from the warmth of the solar. The river is a reasonably quick distance throughout at this level, and Michael can simply stroll to the opposite aspect on his personal, with out utilizing his climbing poles. 

Whereas I’m experimenting with swimming towards the light present and letting it carry me again to the place I began, I discover Michael has been standing on the reverse financial institution for fairly a while. I am going over to him. 

“What are you doing?” 

“I’m watching the dragonflies,” he tells me.

I discover there are a number of dragonflies flitting among the many reeds that develop alongside the financial institution. We each stand transfixed, watching their clear wings replicate the daylight, remodeling them into prisms of iridescent shade. They’re making a miniature gentle present as they dart and twist, abruptly turning and altering course. 

There, standing aspect by aspect within the nonetheless water, our our bodies contact, and our love flows gently between us. Regardless of his incapacity, he has walked throughout the river on his personal, and he’s excited to share his reward with me—the surprise of dancing dragonflies.

Within the years to comply with, dragonflies will develop into a robust image for Michael—a transformative image of power and renewal, a logo of being complete.

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Concerning the creator:

Suzanne Marriott is a memoirist and deep-travel author who shares her transformative experiences together with her readers. A local Californian, Suzanne has traveled up and down the coast of her state, exploring as far north as British Columbia and south into Mexico. She lives in an ecologically aware cohousing group within the Sierra Nevada foothills. For extra data on Suzanne’s life and the significance of compassionate caregiving, go to www.suzannemarriottauthor.com