Circle of Us

'Give me your hand' were the words that brought me back to the circle of us after months of separation. He spoke them as he speaks everything - directly, gently, deeply. I had climbed up into his truck after he rescued me from the side of the road where my car stood on its side in a ditch having slid from the slippery country road. He wasn't the first one I called even though he was the first one I thought of calling. The confusion of the wreck and the inconsistency of my cell phone connection had taken me many places in my thoughts. When my mind grasped that I was stranded and needed help on this cold, icy night I called my daughter because I knew she would come. I couldn't tell her where I was though. It is a road I have traveled many times but not one marked by a nearby street sign. I had been driving for hours listening to life and had at one point been lost but the compass that always hangs around my rearview mirror and my trusty flashlight had guided me back to this familiar road. I knew I had no choice so I made the call.

His simple 'hello' calmed me as I explained that I needed to know where I was so that Jenni could come and get me. I knew he would know. I told him I was in the deep ditch on the road just north of the white house where the woman grows a beautiful garden with flowers all around it - even though now the garden has died away. I told him I was east of the field that I love because the way that the hill slants. He knew just where that was and said he was on his way. I had assured all that I was unharmed. I went down in the ditch, opened my trunk and got out my Carhart coveralls, my John Deere jacket, my scarf and gloves and put them on. Getting back into my car wasn't an option because of its tricky position and the ice prevented me from walking so I sat down and waited.

The only distance between us was the time he took to drive to me. Seeing the lights of his big farm truck come down the road brought me to tears and I finally realized the significance of what had happened and what had come back to me. In his usual style, he made the world make sense. He told me that all that mattered was that I was safe, that he was born to keep me safe, that he would buy me a new car if mine was broken, that he would get me ice cream when we were done, that he loved me. Two of his friends and two big trucks pulled my car back onto the road and to all of our surprise it was unharmed. He followed me to his house. No worries now.

I spent much of the night watching the lights on the Christmas tree surrounded by the warmth of his home and the comfort of his presence. I didn't try to make sense out of why a circle has been drawn around us again. Instead, I am focusing on being grateful for the circle.

I'm wondering this afternoon about the circles in your life - those that connect and reconnect you to the past, to the people you love and that love you - to the people that come when they are needed, that know just the right words, the right looks, the right touches to bring you back to yourself. I'm wondering who, in turn, you do that for as well.

Safe travels and safe rescues,
Dane
Copyright 2005