My Happy Footprint

A beautiful moment in the Tsitsikamma in South Africa

Let me take you to my happy place. Over rolling hills, through steep saddlebacks and across roaring rapids we must traverse, far from the prying fingers of cellphone signal and the frenzied drone of modern technology. Our minds we must unbind from the shackles of our existential rat-race; our bodies we must free from pollution and decay. After days of walking the paths upon which no man may tread without the atonement of long hours of sweat and physical exertion, we will come upon a site of incomparable beauty and tranquility. In the heart of the Tsitsikamma Rainforest, 13 km from the nearest human settlement, the Lottering River carves its course through the mountainous landscape, leaving pockets of paradise in its wake. It is to one of these picturesque pockets that I lead you, among the Lottering’s glassy headwaters, to a scene that is bound to take your breath away.
The air around the stream is warm and thick. The remnants of the night’s cool air waft intermittently through the low brush as if playfully skipping down the mountain in anticipation of full daylight. The clouds above have not yet lifted, and form a comforting cover, holding close the gentle moment with muted light and saturating the air with soft moisture. Immersing the traveler are the soft songs of nature, none out of place, all holding their tension to create the balance of a perfect symphony. The soft gurgling of the dark water ebbing and flowing across the bed of smooth, grey stones and mirroring the sky above with frothy whiteness as it slowly churns, joins the calls of the birds - unseen but heard. A gentle rustle of vegetation forms the undertones of the melody, while the rolling rocks keep tempo. Nature’s unbroken quiet washes the ears and rids the soul of man’s continual cacophony.
Organic matter, steeped in the river, slowly fills the air with the sweetness of earthy scent. The rich smell of humus on the riverbank complements the sharper tones of flowering fynbos, creating an olfactory buffet. The river sand is coarse and exfoliating, cleansing the hands and crunching gently underfoot. The rocks are refreshingly cold to touch and are finely textured, covered in some places by slippery lichens. The refreshing water is incredibly soft as it flows around ankles and tired hands.
At the beginning of the last of the long days of the Tsitsikamma hike, the Lottering River is a most welcoming sight to set the mood for the rest of the trek through the mountains. All thoughts of aching shoulders and stiff legs are put aside to fully appreciate the moment of peace and beauty. I begin to understand Paul’s words in Romans 1:20 as God’s invisible qualities become unavoidably apparent in His breathtaking creation.
It is beside this river that I love to sit and muse, in the dichotomy of my emotions, about things of great weight amongst infinite lightness. As I look down upon my happy footprint in the loose ground, undisturbed by the heavy trampling of mankind, I begin to wonder about humankind’s stewardship of this undeserved gift of nature. It seems we pollute and destroy our Creators’ masterpiece without giving a second thought. Often I wish to return to my happy footprint, where my steps are lighter and my soul is satiated with joy.