My online journal sharing interests in photography, nature, coffee life, journaling, fountain pens, bicycling, spirituality and asking deep questions.
““The most beautiful experience we can have is the mysterious. It is the fundamental emotion that stands at the cradle of true art and true science.”
Albert Einstein
Made a short walk at Riverbend Ponds just to find some images to bring home. These ponds are a popular place for fishing, primarily for bass. Needless to say not many anglers out there today.
“The man who fears to be alone will never be anything but lonely, no matter how much he may surround himself with people. But the man who learns, in solitude and recollection, to be at peace with his own loneliness, and to prefer its reality to the illusion of merely natural companionship, comes to know the invisible companionship of God. Such a one is alone with God in all places, and he alone truly enjoys the companionship of other men, because he loves them in God in Whom their presence is not tiresome, and because of Whom his own love for them can never know satiety.”
We had a dusting of snow yesterday evening and temperature is at 17 degrees this morning. Good morning for coffee. They had freshly made chocolate eclairs in the display but I kept my wallet in my pocket and calories off my waist. I’m calling that progress.
This is an open lot about two blocks from my condo. I am standing along Shields Street and looking east. I’ve taken a few images of sunrises from this location. However, that will change over the next couple years as they sent notice that they will be building an apartment complex and small convenience store in this field. There are people who call it growth, development, progress, because it is about money to them. I want to call it destruction. Saddens me to see areas like this within the city changed from a natural world to concrete and wood structures surrounded by asphalt!
“But no matter the medicinal virtues of being a true friend or sustaining a long close relationship with another, the ultimate touchstone of friendship is not improvement, neither of the other nor of the self, the ultimate touchstone is witness, the privilege of having been seen by someone and the equal privilege of being granted the sight of the essence of another, to have walked with them and to have believed in them, and sometimes just to have accompanied them for however brief a span, on a journey impossible to accomplish alone.” David Whyte
“When it’s over, I want to say: all my life
I was a bride married to amazement.
I was the bridegroom, taking the world into my arms.When it is over, I don’t want to wonder
if I have made of my life something particular, and real.
I don’t want to find myself sighing and frightened,
or full of argument.I don’t want to end up simply having visited this world.”
Over the past three years I normally start my day by saying three prayers before I place my feet on the floor. Then, I make a trip to the bathroom, get dressed and head to my chair for quiet time. After at least 20 minutes of contemplative prayer and meditation I then like to read some reflection before ending with prayer. When ready I will grab my backpack, place my camera around my neck and make my way to the bus stop. My destination is one of several coffee shops, either on campus or off campus. This is my morning routine. This was yesterday’s snow moon on my walk to the bus stop.
“One way God connects us to nature is through giving us the capacity to appreciate and be fascinated by its beauty. We find nature marked by such patterns as simplicity, harmony, balance, and a mysterious quality of vibrancy.” Tilden Edwards
I stopped in awe and took in the wonder of this tranquil scene yesterday morning after Friday’s snowfall. It was the shadows and the undisturbed snow that called to me. I like to think of it as an inaudible voice heard deep within me. I was a bit surprised to find this large of an area of undisturbed snow with no tracks and painted with soft long early morning shadows. As you may well know I am drawn to these scenes. I find a beauty and serenity that touches somewhere within me, especially when I find it in a busy city, or in this case a college campus. I’m not sure I set out searching for them as much as it seems they are presented, or gifted to me. However, I must be aware of the world around me, listening to the voice within and have my camera with me.