Looking For Calm

My family is visiting Lake Placid, New York this week. We dragged our 10 and 12 year old kids on a hike earlier in the day up a little mountain called Mt. Joe. We paid our modest $10 entrance fee to the park, got our water ready, began to walk and the rain started. We ran back to the car and considered our options. Should we get a refund and return in the morning, when we knew the weather was going to be better? The kids wanted to return to the hotel for an indoor swim, before we went on our planned visit to the Olympic museum. We consumed our Subway sandwiches in the car, rather than the intended picnic on top of Mt. Joe. The rain had slowed and my husband and I changed the plan. Not a good idea with a semi grouchy ten year old and an anxious twelve year old who relies on having a consistent plan all of the time. But we said, “Let’s go” and off we went . Having hiked about ten minutes, the thunder began in earnest. Caroline grumbled as she hiked mumbling about how unsafe it was to be in the woods during a thunderstorm – I told them we were just as unsafe getting in a car ( probably not my finest parenting response). Did she really feel unsafe? My stubborn gene kicked in as we ascended- she was mad because she was not heading to the warmth of the indoor pool that we had discussed just 10 minutes prior. We plodded on and up and up enveloped by these gorgeous pines and large rocks which led the way up the steep path. The track was a single track, it widened every so often, each of us choosing the path that looked the best to us? How do we each determine that path? What looks steep and unmanageable to one, looks more doable to another. I wondered at that point – are we taking a risk by being up here in a thunderstorm? Is this a wise parenting move- was my daughters concern warranted? We pressed on through a couple of lengthy downpours. Finally at the top, we looked down on Hart Lake. Stunning! Heading down, the skies let loose again and with this shower, small hail and torrential rain. The four of us, and I think most everyone out on that mountain, (and there were other crazies out there), were astounded at the beauty that surrounded us- Caroline’s mood had shifted entirely- she still thought mom and dad were nuts – but she was caught up in the beauty as well.
We were walking around town after dinner and came out of a store we had ducked into because it had started to rain again. The most spectacular double rainbow lit up the sky… It’s beauty took our breaths away really- Caroline could not stop talking about how the rainbow and the stillness, nor could I for that matter. We watched the rainbow until it disappeared, and we marveled at the cloud formations over the mountains in the distance.This day had been a true gift. Time with my family, time soaking in the splendor of God’s creation. I will hold onto the moments of yesterday as they filled my heart and soul. What is your double rainbow?