The Gum Tree for 2004 August 4

This morning I woke up at around 6:30 and I have never felt better. I lied awake for a few minutes and got up invigorated in a way that I haven’t felt in a while. It reminded me of the early mornings when I was in Nicaragua arising with the sun after a good nights sleep that was also after a hard days work. A funny thing happened last night as well. I went to scouting as is usual and we went swimming at Provo High for our activity. I then came home and went on a run. I was only going to go for a 30 min. run, but as I was out there I decided to go for 20 min. out and 20 back. As turned around I increased the pace a bit to see what my body could take. I slipped easily into a clip and was probably running a good 6-7 min. mile. I made the run back home in about 14 min. A beautiful thunderstorm was amassing around the ridges of the mountain allowing brief flashes that lit the sky behind silhouetting their massive girth. In the midst of the clamor of the mountains the valley skies were reticent and lucid in contrast. The light from the stars shined through the crystal sky, and from the side of the mountain you could see the warm lights of the many homes across the valley. I felt as if I could go up in the mountain woods and find a campfire that was surrounded by people and sit with them. We could sit in quiet reverence listening in communion to life while the phony trappings of modern materialism wafting away with the smoke. It was an invigorating night, and a pleasant start of the next day. The air is full of childlike anticipation for something that is to come but that is not quite known. I guess it is the Indian summer that is getting to me, or perhaps it is the abundance that I have from time well employed. Nothing makes me happier than a productive, worthwhile life.