• landscape,  natural areas,  Pineridge Natural Area,  quotes

    Grateful

    “Each person is a special gift of God to the world. His or her life is designed by God to make a difference in how the world is. That influence on the world will come by the person getting in touch with her or his inner life and making a gift of that inner life to others.”

    The Enneagram: A Journey of Self Discovery

    Took this image a couple weeks ago and just now got around to posting it. I do love the blue in Dixon Reservoir and those waves left by the geese.

    I did some study about 25 years ago on the Enneagram and found it interesting as well as helpful. There are several approaches to using it. My purpose was to understand my compulsive behavior and learn how to change those. It runs along the line of the Myer-Briggs personality types. I happened to pick up one of my books this past week and read back through some stuff and thus the quote. I like the idea that a person can make a gift of their inner life to others. The world needs more of that!

    Met my friend Eric for our Saturday morning coffee and conversation. I find it a good way to start my weekend but it is also a good close to our week. The drive is calming when I take the backroads. It is expected to be a warm spring day. Already up to 68 degrees. So, I’ve already had a chai latte, met with Eric, and a Dove’s dark chocolate. Pretty good day so far! I am grateful.

  • clouds,  flowers,  landscape,  natural areas,  Pineridge Natural Area,  Plants,  sunrises

    Eye of the Heart

    The sun’s morning starburst and prairie coneflowers

    I’ve come to believe if our seeing does not expand then we stunt our growth mentally and spiritually. Photography has helped me see the beauty in the world of nature’s landscapes with the eyes of a photographer. While self-reflection along with prayer and meditation have helped me see the beauty of our inner landscape with the eye of my heart. I also believe in the statement we never see more than we are willing to see. Hope you have a wonderful weekend!

  • landscape

    Dreams

    Fog and Mist
    Fog and Mist

    “Go confidently in the direction of your dreams! Live the life you’ve imagined. As you simplify your life, the laws of the universe will be simpler.” Henry David Thoreau  (1817 – 1862)


     Take in the power of Thoreau’s words to inspire. This “dream” theme still bounces around inside my head. It seems my dreams are so far out there and at other times simple. Our dreams are in the distance among the fog and dimly seen, a vague outline. But, as in this image, when we move forward into the fog and mist we will see clearer our dreams. We may have obstacles to climb over. What dreams will we find in the mist?

  • quotes,  spirituality,  writing/reading

    Our Inner Life

    The Inner Life

    It is useless to try to make peace with ourselves by being pleased with everything we have done. In order to settle down in the quiet of our own being we must learn to be detached from the results of our own activity. We must withdraw ourselves, to some extent, from effects that are beyond our control and be content with the good will and the work that are the quiet expression of our inner life. We must be content to live without watching ourselves live, to work without any instantaneous satisfaction, and to exist without any special recognition.

    New Seeds of Contemplation by Thomas Merton