the harvest

*deep breath*... this winter has been a long one, in many respects reaching back further than the calendar would have you believe. The ground has lain dormant with a harsh and barren exterior. Underneath the surface however the seeds have been germinating, and the roots taking hold; reaching slowly and tenaciously deep into the earth. slowly (painfully so) those seeds have pushed up green shoots of hope through the bleak soil, revealing the growth that had been manifesting through this long winter. eventually trees have formed, matured, leafed out, and flowered; offering hope by showing signs of the fruit to come. tentatively i have watched and waited, working the ground when necessary, staving off unwelcome infestations that sought to undermine the trees health and growth. some days, or months, i felt this tree would never grow into anything; others i was sure it was destined for greatness. today, i can simply smile a peaceful smile knowing that the universe has offered me a time of harvest. the apples have come. they formed, ripened, and are glistening in the sun. they are happy apples, i can tell. they hang there from their tree as if polished and prideful, knowing that they were nothing more than an idea, or a hope, before this long winter. so now i will sit with my bucket of freshly picked apples, and examine each one; relishing in the deep color, sweet taste, and the years of labor it took to form this one simple beautiful harvest.