Soft Steps

  The power line that cut through the camp I worked at is an unofficial border to me, an unofficial border into the wilds of camp. Looking by moonlight through this line seeming so bright compared to the darkness of the trail on the other side. Maybe 100’ of scrub brush, weeds and an access road. I always hesitate there on my night time hikes; the darkness of the trail ahead always has a certain foreboding, not being able to see past that darkness does it. I never had any problems on that side of the power line. In fact I always saw or heard the bet animals over there. For the longest time it was a guarantee of at least hearing a bobcat there.

  I start to cross the no mans land of the power line, stopping to look up. The power lines were visible against the night sky. A dark blue pierced by bright stars and a much brighter moon, fading away the dark of the night. The pause was long enough to see several of the brighter constellations and a faint milky way. Two of my favorite constellations, the dolphin and the arrow are to minor in brightness to be seen in the brighter moon. I lingered looking up a bit longer, always hoping to see a meteor. The only moving lights in the sky were the airliners on approach to New York and Newark city airports. Staying one more moment to look at the night sky pictures and maybe, just maybe a meteor, then started walking. I never get tired of looking at the starry sky. I almost decided to stay and keep looking up.

  I continued across this border stopping just inside of the tree line, letting my eyes adjust to the darkness under the canopy of the woods. Soon the trail becomes brighter, easy to see. I don’t know why but a worn trail always and lighter grey then the dark ground around it at night. I had a flash light for the “just in case” but this was not the time for it. A walk through the woods always requires more than sight, requiring sound touch and even smell. At night time it is even more important to use all the senses.

  The trail was finally bright enough to follow, almost aglow in the darkness. I started my slow walk. I don’t want the critters of the woods alerting each other about me. Especially one very loud bird, some day I will know what type of bird it is. Another reason for the slow walk is to avoid low hanging branches. Never hurt myself yet from one, but they are annoying to walk into and it is all fun and games until someone pokes an eye out.

  After a few minutes of the slow walk I heard a gentle padding of footsteps in the woods to my left. They were to light to quick for a bear or deer, no pushing of brush for raccoon or other low walking critter and coyotes weren’t a thought back then. I couldn’t be sure it was bobcat but thought it was. By this time I had seen several and heard them. It soft stepped back and forth many times and around me, never getting close though.

  There is something unnerving about being watched, or studied by something you know is there but cannot see; only hearing it. I wondered if it was trying to decide if I were prey for it or not. Maybe it was just curious.

  After some time I had to leave. I was actually a bit sad about leaving. I was so focused on the soft steps it was almost meditation. I always wonder about my focus. Some things seem so hard to focus on, some things so easy to focus on. I do not like being able to stay focused on nature, my art, most books, people, yet it is so hard to stay focused on scripture and prayer. Why is it so hard to focus on a section of scripture, to meditate on it, chew it until I know it, until it is fully a part of me that I conform to it, to pray without being distracted or falling asleep? Some day, I will do both.

John A Miller 1/10/11