The leap

Children on a sun-scorched bluff above the swimming hole, daring each other to make the kingfisher plunge into coolness . . . the tallest, finally to show how it was done, flashed to a splash of broken shadow and sun; shaking the light from his shoulders, called reassurance. One smaller, edging close, eager to move beyond his fear to joy, but pausing long, reminded me of all such moments when soul longs to launch itself in total trust, to bridge the danger and the distance with a leap of love.