Beauty in the Brokenness
A Year of Noticing - Day 219
I opted for the longer, gravel roads today instead of the paved highway, simply for a change of scenery among the rolling hills of farm fields. It fascinates me how many different shades of colours are visible even after a long winter, and before new growth has started to emerge.
As I was driving I noticed an old abandoned barn and numerous other buildings near the road.
I slowed down as I passed by, and I wondered what all and who all have traversed, cared for and lived upon these very lands, Treaty 4 territory. I wondered the story of these buildings, and what the purpose of each of them might of been in the past. There didn’t appear to be any buildings that looked like living quarters for people, so I wondered what might have happened to the house. The fields around were freshly mowed (or maybe they still looked freshly cut from the Fall), but nothing seemed to occupy the building. Fascinating that the lands are being taken care of, when the buildings are slowly crumbling to the ground.
I wondered what the significance of these buildings might be that they have remained standing (or mostly standing) despite being abandoned. However, the land is still showing signs of growth and recently been cared for, so is it simply easier to work around the buildings instead of finishing the demolition of the buildings?
The buildings were broken, and falling apart, and yet they were intriguing, interesting, and I felt curious to know more. Sometimes (even most of the time), the most interesting places, and people, are not the ones that are poised and well-manicured, but those that have weathered many storms, and their wounding offer stories with profound depth, their brokenness filled with lessons, learnings, opportunities, healing and growth.
Finding beauty in and through the brokenness is beautiful, just like Kelly Clarkson sings…
xo