Big Bay Point Lighthouse

I had forgotten the way the great lake’s wind whistles through the grasses, a gentle force that chooses to bend not break. June ran through the field weaving her hand through the wildflowers, orange and yellow and white, a stark contrast from the tall greens. So much about that day at the light house stays with me now. There was an ease in the air as we tipped our heads back to watch an eagle pass overhead. Without a plan and only feet-worn paths before us, we were free to do as we pleased. Is it selfish to wish that most of our days could be like this…? And, that whether we are hundreds of rooted weeds or a mighty force off Superior, we learn to spend more time bending than breaking today?

June is quick to rebound. I like this about her. Nothing seems to bother her for very long. A kiss can heal a bloody wound. A hug can mend a wrong-doing. Somewhere along the way, adults learn to become very good at holding onto pain. As I stood there looking out across the mighty water, I thought about all of the things I was holding on to that day, then I exhaled the negative energy into the cold wind.

It is easier to let go of negativity when you are surrounded by positive people. I watched our cousins chase after their two boys, their backs mirroring the hearty Light House behind them. In our life, their friendship has become a steady pulse. Like the waves against the shore’s rocks, we return to them again and again, pulled by nature’s instincts to refresh our souls. Washed anew by laughter and meaningful conversation, our two families then return to our own seas feeling better than when we arrived. The world needs more families like theirs, this much I know.

I return my attention to Sean then, feeling so proud of the dad he has grown into. How natural he looks standing there with June’s arms wrapped around his neck. This is his happy place and in watching him there, I become happier, too. There are struggles in every adventure we take, but moments like these make them an easy sacrifice. And with every adventure we take, we become a family who is a little bit braver, a little more apt to take on the unknown, and most importantly, a family who is a little more willing to bend, not break.