lets take a walk

Take a walk with me if you will

To where the trees sway in the breeze at the top of the hill

At 7 years old I got plenty time to kill

And Pops, he’s found a space in his busy schedule, to teach a new skill

He’s got with him, covered in Denis the Menace black and red stripes

A brand new, shiny kite

A look of hope in his eyes and a promise of flight

But try

Hard as I might, I just can’t see how?

There’s no one to hold it, no one to control it

No arms can be long enough to reach up there and hold it

High in the sky to give an impression of flight

At 7 I trust my dad right, but I’ve got questions

Then,

he takes hold of my cold little hand

And

With all the confidence he can

He stands

Fearless, unwavoured and calm

These are the words he teaches me

“Just coz you can’t see the wind son, doesn’t mean it’s not there”

Look

The way the trees sway, the way the birds play

The way your hairs not quite as tidy as it was yesterday

Trust me!

It’s there

So with the childlike confidence I have in his unrelenting smile and stare

Right there

I believe

At the top of the hill we unwind the string

Anticipation begins, to bubble within

“come on man, let’s just fly this thing”

“Hold on son, just listen”

He carefully talks me through the procedure with care and attention

But Il be honest, it’s not really keeping my attention

I not really listening I just wanna see

This kite flying high in the sky

I feel the wind and I don’t know why

But I

Believe

I believe what it is that he’s telling me

I guess I might have a few reservations

But I trust this guy with no hesitations

So now doubt doesn’t even, get a mention

I’m just griped with the feeling of anticipation

“You run, I’ll hold the string”

“Let’s see if we can’t fly this thing”

3,2,1 and I’m off

No time lost

The wind’s blowing in my face, but I’m shrugging it off

I release my grip at the instructed second

Then

To my complete amazement

We have lift off

Was there ever any doubt?

I’d like to think not

but maybe?

But

how blessed is he?

He who believes?

Before he see’s?

Thank you pops for lessons like these

God thank you I can see you even in the afternoon breeze

I’m taken back to hazy memories of cold afternoons in high up places

That fade all too quickly

But I never lose the breeze

It helps me to believe

It keeps me flying

Gracefully

Faithfully

Blessed, I believe.