Aware-ingly Looking

I walk around and look at her, examining her for any joys or wounds she might have experienced in my absence.  This is my habit concerning Fair Haven.  After days of being away, I walk over her, up and down her hills and valleys, down her length and breadth, through her and around her.  I am reacquainting myself with her.  It is a great joy to have a bit of the earth and a little of her to call mine while I am here.  For she does not belong to me.  No part of the earth belongs to us.  It is loaned, by a great kindness of grace, of its Maker.  Its loan is also with the expectation of care and betterment.  I am to help the earth, keeping it clean and guarded against any and everything that might reduce its productivity and limit its possibilities.  I am also to add to it, plant, grow, feed, and nourish it with new growth and new growing things.  So I walk over her, lovingly looking at her, giving my attention to her, and in this, she gives me the satisfaction of showing herself to me, for I see her only as I aware-ingly look.  It is akin to seeing my lover…but I move to a higher elation there, so I will end here, with Fair Haven.