Today is Monday. The picnic areas are empty. All but a few campers and a handful of fishermen are home, on the job in their office, their store, or their shop… and likely wishing they were back here among the hemlock, the birch, the aspen and the pines.
On the Sunday before Memorial Day, John Whitehead was leading our hymns at church. One of them was How Great Thou Art with which we were familiar. However John asked us to sing verse two which he said was often omitted for the more well known verses 1, 3 and 4. As we sang verse 2, I thought of you in your Willow Bay Allegheny Reservoir location . I thought you would appreciate reading verse 2.
When through the woods and forest glades I wander, and hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees. When I look down from lofty mountain grandeur and hear the brook and feel the gentle breeze.
That’s a great song. The comparison is apt.
I lately find myself singing the Johnny Appleseed song, the one from the animated film.
Given the opportunity, the woods can be a balm.