Beyond Day SixMy sometimes-daily blog of a photograph or two with a few words, celebrating all the days of life that flow through creation into perspiration, inspiration, reflection, sabbath, and resurrection. At the Edge of NiagaraI've been to Niagara Falls twice. I'd go again. If I lived closer, I would go every week! The noise and the wind and the chaos of all that water is more than fascinating to me. And of course I have bunches of photos. When we were there the last time, tourists were everywhere, all kinds of different groups standing by the railing and taking photos. I waited because I didn't want all those people in my picture. But then, surprisingly, everyone was gone and there was just this one woman left in a bright dress and a vivid hat! She made my picture!
When Stars SangI'm not a fan of the book of Job. The whole scenario of a perfectly righteous man experiencing tragedy upon tragedy and being counseled by his friends that it must be his fault, having some sin in his life that is causing these problems doesn't appeal to me. Rabbi Kushner wrote a little book years ago, "Why Do Bad Things Happen to Good People?" ultimately answering why not. I think he came to the same conclusion as Job which is to hold onto one's faith even through the bad times. Obviously, a challenge for any believer. What I do value in Job is part of the reading for today, an extended answer by God: "Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell me if you have understanding. Tell me who determined its measurements--surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it? On what were its bases sunk, or who laid its cornerstone when the morning stars sang together and all the heavenly beings shouted for joy?" (38:4-7)
Good Listening SkillsWe all want someone to listen to us. Without interruptions. Face-to-face. Feeling like the listener has all the time in the world. Body language that indicates a posture of attention. Soon, the speaker will discover limitations in the listener's stony response and steely-eyed stare and quiet demeanor and lack of dialogue. At least, I hope he eventually notices.
Low Tide
Fascinating that the ocean level rises and falls. And that someone figured out long ago that the timing could be calculated. And tables are published for specific locations when low tide and high tide will occur, and how much. It's a wonder that the seas vary that much and amazing that the variation can be determined and timed. This is Popham Beach in Maine, where we got fooled. Large expanse of sand invites explorers to venture toward the sea, and especially to Morse Point. which is a large rock mass in the ocean. We walked on relatively dry land out toward the rock, and the tide rises quickly when it returns. The dry land disappears. Feet get wet. Frequently the tide here varies by more than 10 feet.
Not the Same as YesterdayI have not had the luxury to live by the shore. I certainly have visited a number of places near an ocean. And each time I go I notice the patterns in the sand that the water has left behind. I do wonder if I went back to the exact same spot everyday if the pattern would be the same. I suspect it would always be different because of the variance of wind and waves. I suppose there would be some measure of dependability if was always the same. Kind of boring if so. And would we notice? What if we looked ten feet to the right or left? What pattern would we notice? I make several notations of activities on my calendar every day, a journal of sorts. So, when I suspect that every day is the same, I can look at my calendar journal and note that something different happened that day. And I noticed it wasn't the same as yesterday or last week, and hopefully won't be the same tomorrow..
A Walk with FriendsLast October we visited our friends, Gerry and Christie, who moved to a continuous care community in New Hampshire. The travel turned out to be a treat for us as we drove through Pennsylvania and New York ablaze with fall color. We had never been through that part of the US in the fall. Our autumn trips usually took us north to Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Michigan, or west to Colorado. Hard wood forests put on quite the show. Our friends love the outdoors, so of course we had to venture to a number of places during our visit. But the surprise was the trail on the grounds of the facility that bordered a stream. The day was gray and threatening rain, but when we turned a corner, the sun burst through the clouds and illuminated the scene before us. I'm always the slowpoke because I want to stop and take photos. And thankfully, our friends are never in a hurry. Christie is interested in everything she sees and wants to be able to identify it. And Gerry, the ever-present teacher, is so excited to share details from rocks to trees to little critters. Good friends to spend time with. We've been blessed with innumerable friends to share food, and books, and faith, and photos, and walks in the woods.
Summer's EndCold nights forecast this week. Time to care for the tender flowers; Judy has already assembled quite a collection that will be wheeled into the garage for a couple of nights. The colorful flowerpots by the pool that have added blooms and foliage diversity all summer have been disassembled and the soil returned to the compost pile. A friend gathered her last tomatoes before frost would bring it all to an end. I love summer; well, all the seasons. But I swim in the summer. And we have fresh fruit from the produce stand south of Nolensville. It must come to an end, whether I like or not. Surprise, I don't control the weather. I don't know anyone that does.
Steam!I was born in a railroad town, Peru, Indiana. And when I was little, my mother would take me to the railroad crossing just half a block from her parents' home, and we would watch the steam locomotive pass. What a sight and sound! A fellow would come out of a small building with a stop sign to halt the traffic. I cut out photos from newspapers and magazines and pasted them into a scrapbook. I wish I still had that scrapbook, but I have the memories. I still enjoy trains, and steam is best. This shot is from the Colorado Railroad Museum in Golden, Colorado.
How LongBreath prayer from Cole Arthur Riley, "Black Liturgies": Inhale: How long, O God? Exhale: This is too much to hold. Inhale: I am not okay. Exhale: God, with you I am safe, Inhale: I don't have to hold every pain at once. Exhale: I can feel and not be consumed. Inhale: I won't rush my grief. Exhale: These tears are sacred.
Life Is ImperfectAn October scene in Conway, New Hampshire. This is one of those "almost" photos. Actually, I have hundreds or thousands of "almost" photos. I want to be in the right place at the right time with the right sky and the right light. Once in a while it happens, but I sure have a lot of "almost". The problem is with my expectations. And I see only imperfections. Life is imperfect. Except for fun with friends, and crisp air, and hot apple cider, and the wonder of fall color, and remembering past joy.
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