Sunset this past Friday evening before the storm moved in.
“Rock bottom became the solid foundation on which I rebuilt my life.” ― J.K. Rowling
Snow fell overnight Friday and into Saturday evening. Probably have over 3 inches. It has made for a wintery look and feel. I saw this image on the way home from the store Friday evening before the storm arrived. Actually had to turn around and go back to get a shot. Unfortunately by the time I turned around I’d lost some of the colors from when I first saw it. This is a time of the year for me to reflect on how much I have to be grateful for.
It has been cold the past few days. The 15 inch snowfall we had has not melted due to the cold temperatures. However, there is hope over this weekend as we could reach 50 degrees. I will not complain as there is major weather stuff happening all over the world that’s destroying peoples homes and massive amounts of land. It’s almost incomprehensible that almost 7 millions acres have burned in Australia.
The job of the peacemaker is to stop war, to purify the world, to get it saved from poverty and riches, to heal the sick, to comfort the sad, to wake up those who have not yet found God, to create joy and beauty wherever you go, to find God in everything and in everyone. Muriel Lester
“I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear.” Martin Luther King Jr.
Took this image on Monday morning at campus. Love how nature trimmed the edges of this leaf. Caught my eye immediately. I’m posting this at midnight so by the time you read this it could be raining or snowing here, again.
I had someone thank me on Veterans Day for my time in the military. It rubbed me wrong. Took me a few days to understand some of what I felt. I had been raised to believe the purpose of the military was defend this country, that Vietnam was a security threat, so I joined the military in October of 1968 with all intents to go to Vietnam. Train me how to use this M16 and I’ll use it. Thankfully I did not make it to Vietnam. I have since come to believe how this conflict was not a war to defend our country. I’ve also come to believe that there are no victors in war, all are losers. Seems we send way too many young people into combat for reasons beside defence of our country. Yes, I’ll stick with love.
To those who see with loving eyes, life is beautiful. To those who speak with tender voices, life is peaceful. To those who help with gentle hands, life is full. And to those who care with compassionate hearts, life is good beyond all measure.
Those with a vision of new horizons are never lost. I have found myself wandering aimlessly because I was without a vision. At this stage in my life I’ve come to believe those who have found a spiritual path become the mentors, the spiritual guides of those lost.
There is a joy in this journey of life that comes from encounters with new experiences. These experiences can always broaden our horizons, presenting new visions. For me these inner horizons are a vision of hope and have been part of my journey towards transformation. Each day is an unknown journey and an absolutely free gift. Set no expectations about tomorrow’s journey and do not deprive yourself of these gifts.
“May we each find our vision and pursue it, becoming mentors who will help the lost find their vision.”
This time the artist, Nature, used the tools of leaves and freezing rain to create these two images. I’m impressed. I can’t do that! However, I can take a digital copy of it.
“A human being is a part of the whole called by us universe, a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feeling as something separated from the rest, a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest to us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty.”
I took this yesterday morning on my way from the bus stop. I decided to take the bus to the coffee shop because I didn’t want to clean the frost off the car or find a parking spot and I need to exercise. On the way home I noticed the tailgaters were getting set up in the parking lot of the stadium for the CSU game this afternoon. Tables were getting setup and they even had some grills set up and smoke billing up. Brats? Not my game plan anymore on a cold November morning. Nope, prefer the warmth of a coffee shop and a mocha.
