My online journal sharing interests in photography, nature, coffee life, journaling, fountain pens, bicycling, spirituality and asking deep questions.
They are repairing some major potholes to the parking lot at Reservoir Ridge Natural Area. One of those holes you could disappear in. On Friday when I visited I parked outside the gate and walked along the fence to get this image. This is a very different perspective than most of the images from the natural area. I like the mystery in those shadows. Happy Mother’s Day!
looking out across the meadow
ms
my mind restless and troubled
seeking the quieting of my spirit.
as the sun sets over the mountains
nature empties herself completely
finding the quieting of my spirit.
This simple poem was inspired by one of Mary Oliver’s poems. She spent time in nature on an almost daily basis which is motivating me to do the same. At times I feel regret for those times I could have spent in nature. I wonder if time in nature inspires me to write or if my writing inspires me to spend more time in nature. Have a great day!!
P.S. We have water falling from the sky. People are telling me it’s called rain. ☔
We all have within us a sense of the sacred, a sense of reverence, however we may articulate it. It is a part of our human nature…it is a fundamental recognition of the wonder, beauty, and divine nature of the world.
LLewellyn Vaughan-Lee, Season of the Sacred
As I walked across campus the other morning I noticed these tree branches with their new leaves popping to greet the blue sky. I stopped, said thank you then took a couple of images. I wonder if I stopped because I heard a whisper from the trees, “Pssst, look at me.” I’m not sure how long ago I began seeing the sacred in nature but I do believe it is a part of our human nature.
Walt Whitman wrote over 150 years ago in his book Leaves of Grass that the United States: is not merely a nation but a teeming nation of nations. It seems like a good question to ask ourselves: How well does each of us hold to the idea we are a nation of nations? It’s also interesting that the first word in our Constitution is we. Which leads to another question: how and who defines “we”? Yes, I’m a thinkin and asking questions again this morning. Hoping you have a wonderful weekend!
“The greatest discovery of my generation is that a human being can alter his life by altering his attitudes of mind.”
William James
I made a drive out to Cobb Lake State Wildlife Area yesterday evening to enjoy the sunset. We had such a beautiful day. I also got in a nice bicycle ride as I work on getting my legs back into some sort of physical condition to ride. A meadowlark was perched in this small tree when I arrived singing my favorite song. To my left, out of view, there was a concert going with the geese and ducks on Cobb Lake. While a group of ducks had a second concert on the smaller lake just to the right of center. I thanked them for the free concerts. After sunset the days cool breeze quickly became a cold wind so I headed for home. I so enjoyed the end of a beautiful day…
“Wisdom tends to grow in proportion to one’s awareness of one’s ignorance.”
Anthony de Mello
From an afternoon walk at the Environmental Learning Center earlier this month.
Definitely needed to clean my lens. 😏