Summer Flame

 
  Earth's crammed with heaven,
And every common bush afire with God;
but only he who sees, takes off his shoes--
      the rest sit around and pluck blackberries.
                                             Elizabeth Barrett Browning

We all prepare to work, knowing we'll get scratched.

Knowing also it'll be worth the scrapes, tears, and blood.

Yes, there was the time we went picking and one child stirred up a yellow jacket's nest
and I don't think we ended up with much that year.

It hasn't deterred us, though...this late summer outing in quest for blackberries.  So sweet, juicy, a burst of delicious flavor, immediate delight!

Summer is drawing to a close.

The sunflowers are bowing their heads lower, paying homage to the sun that gave them life.

The squirrels are working hard to ensure we see not one single ripe walnut, reserving them all for their own winter supply.

And we, we head out to the fields to enjoy summer's grand finale.

I fear the future and cry at the past.  All the what-will-be's of summer are now what-have-beens.  And the to-do list for fall is immense, insurmountable;  feels impossible.

But here, this evening, we stop to savor these astounding jewels.  And store up a little for pie.

Will I choose to remember this evening the next time I get anxious and start to fret?  Just maybe, by God's grace, I'll see in that moment the bush afire God has gifted me....

Because sometimes blackberries are hangin' on the common bushes afire!

photos: blackberry picking, trip to SunRiver