Finding Wonder in the Chaos

In September of 2024, our sleepy mountain cove became part of the devastating path of Hurricane Helene. While Asheville and the surrounding areas experienced heartbreaking loss and destruction, the little cove where we live became a swirling bowl of wind and water, with trees plummeting down the hillsides into the water and land below. We watched as our beloved forest lost 80% of her trees and our creek created new avenues of flow, filling with sediment and debris, much of which remains even now in February of 2025. We are incredibly fortunate and continue, like the rest of our community, to remember our connection to each other and to these sacred mountains we call home.

If you know me, you know that being among the trees brings a sense of joy like no other for me, so being unable to walk through our forest is quite painful. Still, there are glimmers of wonder and awe all around. For instance, how could it be, that in the throes of record-breaking winds, glass globes containing porcelain faeries somehow remained? While I was able to evacuate what I thought were all of my faeries as the storm began to barrel through on the day before, I missed a few that were dangling in the trees, focusing instead on the ones below. Isn't this just how life is sometimes? While we are busy focusing on one thing, so much could be missed around us?

And, so here we are, nearly 5 months out from the storm and we are individually and collectively finding little glimpses of joy, miracles, awe, and wonder. Soon the trilliums and violets will begin to brighten the forest floor, and with the canopy gone and sunlight streaming down to the earth below, who knows what dormant seeds will reach for the sky and delight us?

May we also emerge from the debris of too much news, burdensome worry, doubt and fear to reach for the light and to shine! ✨