A Short Story by Lazarus Carpenter
Image courtesy of Gill Brooks https://www.gillsplace.com/
It was a beautiful summer day, and the sun was shining brightly over the river. The sound of the flowing water was soothing to the ears, and the cool breeze carried the scent of nearby trees. The perfect day for a relaxing afternoon by the river, and that’s exactly what Lazarus had in mind. He packed a few snacks, a bottle of water, and his favorite book, and headed towards the river. He found a secluded spot under a tree, laid down his blanket, and began to read. The book he was reading was an old classic, one he had read many times before, but it never failed to captivate him. As he immersed himself in the story, he lost track of time. Hours passed, and the sun began to set.
Lazarus had not moved from his spot and was still engrossed in the book. It was only when the last rays of the sun disappeared behind the horizon that he looked up and realized the time. He packed up his things and started to head back home, but as he walked, he noticed something strange. The world seemed different. The trees, the grass, the sky, everything had changed. It was as if he was seeing the world for the first time, and it was beautiful. Lazarus realized that he had been so engrossed in the book, he had forgotten about the world around him. He had missed out on the beauty of nature, the sound of the birds, the rustling of the leaves, the wind in his hair, and the warmth of the sun. He had been so focused on the story that he had missed out on the beauty of life and nature as it should be experienced.
From that moment on, Lazarus made a promise to himself. He would never forget the beauty of the world around him, and he would always take the time to appreciate it. He would continue to read his favorite books, but he would never let them consume him to the point where he forgets the beauty of life. Lazarus who read a book by the river learned an invaluable lesson that day. He learned that it’s important to take the time to appreciate the world around us and not let anything consume us to the point where we forget about the beauty of life. To flow as a river and be the river through time full of unconditional love, is a lesson that we can all learn from and apply to our lives. As the book closed on this eventful day he wondered what tomorrow may bring but was content with the ‘now’ as we all should be.
Lazarus Carpenter - Author 