By: Kristin Peterson (written a few years ago and no longer relevant, but a piece nonetheless…)

we sat in the grass
legs splayed out in the sun
Talking together like time didn’t exist
Sharing, laughing
Trying to figure out what it was that lead us to this
but thanking God it did
Sharing sweet secrets with gentle nudges and breezes
questions asked in moments as carefree and easy as these
clouds blew by, sun on our faces
we listened
as simple as it may seem, it was nice to be heard
to relax and let go
to talk about games or relations or other
to swap and share stories
not to compete
just to be heard
to have the sweet joy of listening
the privilege of receiving the baring of souls
the privilege and honor it is:
to acquaint myself with this wonderful phenomenon of Woman before me
not for anything but living in that moment
that reality
where we were just two people
Together
Alone in a way
but being there
her beside me
just listening
I didn’t feel so lonely
so common
so pressured
nor as if I carried the torch for two people
it felt as if it feels to be seen
to be delighted in
to bask in the glow of attention and acknowledgement
to share
to learn
to explore
to come home
wrapped in the blanket of her steadfast arms
and as we sat together
flicking bugs off our shoes and dirt off our soles
we shared a Moment
a perfect moment in time
not for lack of difficulty
to battle the terms to which we must surrender
for feelings so tender
for longing and hope and submission to status
Taken.
but for this all
Still a moment remains in my mind
of a day that we shared
Sitting splayed in the sun
Breaking stems twigs under pressured thumbs
as I sat and I shared
what a pair: privileged few
with stories of baggage unpacked (just a few)
and you asked and you shared and we laughed
then grew grim
then the sun smiled on us as our smiles grew again
for despite all the fussing and fretting and fodder
this girl in the sun (in black boots and damp sweater)
resides in my mind, in this moment: I’ll let her
so thank You again, God, for moments like this
where two girls can relax and just simply exist
and thank You, oh Lord, for right choices and action
that Your strength and Your purpose is filled with compassion
and watch out, my Lord, for that wonderful woman
Keep her safe, loved and happy, and filled with Your purpose
(and if ever (we ever) do end up together
I’ll hand her this note from a long ago day
where she stayed in my heart and my soul all the same
a day that was hard and I brought her to tears
but we came back together, but stronger, through fears
to navigating how to deal with what this is
Being moment by moment: Together as friends
On a day long ago sitting under Our Tree.)