The Rooftop

Anne Frank once said, “The best remedy for those who are afraid, lonely or unhappy is to go outside, somewhere where they can be quiet, alone with the heavens, nature and God. Because only then does one feel that all is as it should be and that God wishes to see people happy, amidst the simple beauty of nature.” There is one place, a very quaint place, that very few have ever seen. Few have witnessed this almost heavenly spot. Did you ever think that the sun sets differently in different places? A beautiful sunset or sunrise from a wonderful rooftop on an old chapel could possibly be the grandest view on the entire earth. The three most charming features of the view are the spiritual connection, emotional and physical feelings, and ultimately the view itself.
As you’re sitting on the rooftop try remembering what building you’re on. A quaint chapel at a children’s camp in northern Missouri. A place where many young children, even teens and adults have made life-altering decisions. Where groups of people gather to worship and fellowship together as individuals in a corporate setting. This very rooftop is a place where the summer teen staff gather to get away from campers, vent to each other, or just enjoy a beautiful starry night. Times of hardship and times of peace make people gravitate to just sit and glance at the beauty that surrounds them. A place where God becomes so real and so prevalent that when the wind blows you realize He is all around you, always.
Underneath you are the rough tar roof tiles that have been warmed by the sun. During the day the tar tiles reflect sunlight so strongly that you feel as if you could set on fire after thirty minutes of being still. At night the stars above engulf you in their beauty and you become awestruck immediately. Sunsets on the rooftop are a great pastime of many who rest there. The roof faces the west and the sky becomes like a drive-in screen filled with vibrant pinks, oranges, and purples. Sometimes it’s best to bring up a blanket and just lay there, looking at the sky, whether it’s mid-day or midnight. Even if the camp is full of campers the roof is the one place of peace and stillness.
The view wraps around you so tightly you feel as if you have no reason to feel unsafe on the old roof. To your left the old, worn in cabins with that wonderful comforting emotion. Past the dorm houses is a thick forest full of evergreens and acorn trees. On the right of the dorms is the newly furbished dining hall. It’s wonderful shiny tin roof reflects the sun almost blindingly in the afternoon. Behind the dining hall is the pool, almost visible, but not quite. The edge peeks out behind the glorious wooden second story deck of the dining hall. Surrounding the pool is a six foot tall silver wire fence and beyond the fence is a grassy dip forming a small valley in which the local boys enjoy paintball wars. Forest and obstacles cover the paintball course, it’s rigged and raw gives it a battle-like atmosphere. A newly paved asphalt road runs up the hill towards the chapel and to the right of the dining hall, pool, and paintball course. The road winds down the hill and out towards the outer road of Rushville, the one road that goes through the entire town. Outer roads always lead to the main highway, which you can also see from sitting on the rooftop. Past the highway there are wonderful fields full of corn, beans, tobacco, and ravishing tall grass. The fields have a quilt pattern that astounds anyone gazing from the rooftop. Beyond the fields lies the Missouri River. In the middle of the summer, when the river is at it’s highest you can barely see the actual water. Continuing to the right you see fields and then you see a jagged tree line where the sunsets over each evening. Causing beauty to fill the skies and wonder to fill your heart.
Nature and human have a superb connection. While we exist without knowledge of nature we cannot escape it. The scenes of fragrant fields, meadows, hills, valleys, and gardens astound even the common mind involuntarily. God created a wonderful masterpiece when creating the rural north western corner of Missouri and it’s a beauty to not only imagine but see for yourself. The appealing delicacy of the environment is something we take for granted almost everyday. This rooftop in the middle of nowhere is exactly what any and every person needs to experience in their life. Nature makes you feel, see and be something so different than what you can ever sense in any city. Emily Dickinson said it best, “My best acquaintances are those with whom I spoke no word- the stars the stated come to town, esteemed me never rude, although to their celestial call I failed to make reply- my constant- reverential face, sufficient."

my descriptive essay for Eng Comp 1.