North Valley

It was stepping through walls

Through time

And standing on concrete

Much harder than anticipated

It was stepping into heartbreak

Into the lives of boys

And the place they became men

The moment they didn't

North Valley Chapel

Up just another dirt road

Un-assuming 

But a road all its own

And to the side

Amongst some tall weed and tree

It sits
A sanctuary without wall

Without window

No stained glass and scripture

No pulpit

No preacher, prophet or penance

A structure without structure

But not without strength

Built by boys

By Josh
Sam

Ben

And Aaron

Built by hands that never knew them
And hearts to remember them
And we sat, my son and I, as I told him the story

Of how things sometimes happen

That we cannot control

He understood

Boys had died here

That the wood on which we rested

Was cut from that burden

Just as trees had been cut from the valley

And chimney stones pulled from the sky

Burying men that were yet to be

And what became of them was this place
Where one might find god

Or solace

Or peace

Or just a place to put a memory
This Chapel in the North Valley





North Valley Chapel at Little Sioux Scout Ranch.  In 2008, 4 boys were killed and 48 others wounded after a tornado struck the camp--- http://www.ketv.com/news/16579276/detail.html


Submitted for One Shot Wednesday