Looking through my stained-glass window across the darkened landscape, I see the Creator’s painted artwork of spring arising. Barren plains of bright green grass, softly cover rolling hills & canyon views, like a velvet moss thrown blanket. Multi colored scenes of wildflower blossoms grace the empty fields. Like Mary’s quite contrary garden, with silver bells & cockle shells & marigolds all in a row. Rushing rivers fill the many small creek beds, from constant rains & snow packed mountains; creating mini waterfalls, flowing down the rough cliff’s edge. Our low tide lake has now reached high, about to reach the border line, where flying geese & boaters share the crisp cool water play. This my friends is Paradise! A fresh bold start has now begun, cleansed the ground & cleared the land; to bear the birth of new found life that breathes & blooms again. Though blackened trees still stand dark, the season’s change has brought some light to gather one a thought. Perhaps a lil spark, of bringing hope & inspiration to our ridge view canyon folk. I know our hearts still break for our broken little town. Yet as we watch this season’s change, I hope we shall remember the good times that we had & not just see the ugly, or only see the bad. Like when we danced the night away to Mustang Sally’s song, with our very own homegrown bands; at the Annual Blues & Brews or at our summer Farmers Market stands! We shared a love for Ridge Strong life, helped peel, core & bake some fresh fruit pies, from our local Noble Orchard store. Time has come today, this change has now begun, we’re moving forward in a new direction to overcome this winter affliction. This is a call to the wild adventurer, a shout to the wounded warrior, a plea to the brave at heart! What once was lost will soon be found, as we are rising up from this broken ground. I know this task is daunting, it’s sometimes vastly haunting. But as we choose to walk this rugged path, let’s break some bread, say a prayer, offer a plea & wipe the dust from our weary feet. We’ve stayed the course, gone the distance, been tested, pulled & tried our patience. But through the raging fire, our hearts burn with desire to a call to arms. Open the gates, raise the flag & man the forts! If God be for us, who can be against us! This is not just a place, this is not just our home, this is what we call Paradise!
