I am remembering a little toe head girl wandering through an apple orchard under the expansive South Dakota sky. In this memory I see the apple trees in their reach for the sun. I see an asparagus patch popping out of the ground, and most vividly the milkweed plant with its pristine white seeds popping out of green pods. I remember telling the artist who made all of it how impressed I was with His art. I was only 4 years old. As I look back, I see the seeds of patience growing in my heart. I knew the Artist then, and did not know that storms would interfere with my journey home. I did not know that an enemy would try very hard to keep me from finding my own True North. This girl is much older and more weathered now. I see the battle which has been waged to prevent her from knowing who she is. I see the wind that pushed her off the path again and again. The fight for control of her has been bitter. There are battles yet to come.
But True is alive. He has found me.