Meditations

The earthy aroma of coffee mingled with the heady scent of books.  A favorite activity, strolling the towering, colorful shelves of a bookstore, is a bliss like no other.  New books, paperbacks, bargain shelves, children's corner, magazines and newspaper from around the globe lovingly caressed, thumbed through and appreciated by confirmed bookaholics.

The bargain shelf always beckons.  Upon this shelf I see something of interest.  "Meditations from A Course in Miracles: Inspirational quotes of universal wisdom."  A smallish book, covered with silhouettes of trees in a misty forest, it stuck to my hand like honey.  Flipping through the introduction I see a passage that gives me pause that goes as follows:

"Nothing real can be threatened

Nothing unreal exists

Herein lies the peace of God"

The book divides the course thematically into eight topics.  My original intent was to read and meditate daily upon each page and write in my journal.  However, another goal has come to the fore, which is to post a photo a day - or thereabouts.  Sometimes my travels take me to places that do not allow for posting so I shall not beat myself up if I miss some days.  However, I can combine the two into one project, and add more books as I wish.  More quotes as I wish.  A book, a quote, a photo.

Recently, I've challenged myself to go outside every day with my camera and shoot whatever I find that's of interest.  Just in my yard.  There is always some tiny miracle occurring; it's up to me to discover it and see how many ways I can capture it digitally.  It's my daily meditation now along with reading and journaling.

The first section from my new Meditations book is on Adversity.  Page 1 - not admitting (into your life) pain.  "Nothing can hurt you unless you give it the power to do so."  This is good for me today for I have been allowing a situation to cause me deep pain.  The situation is unimportant, but what is important is my reaction to it.  It's an old reaction - an embedded pattern that I am trying to break.  Seeing it is the first step.  Just like seeing the beauty of a leaf floating in water.  I see, I see. 

Sunday, November 9, 2008

Waking before dawn to a subconscious thought that followed as I ventured outdoors to walk, it came to me - today, I must be a part of something bigger than myself. It became a need, a loud bonging bell, not a tap on the shoulder but a silent shout in my ear. Today will be meditation and reflection upon things bigger than myself and my issues. Seeking a quote to reflect how I feel led me to this:

"An individual has not started living

until he can rise above the narrow confines

of his individualistic concerns

to the broader concerns of all humanity."

Martin Luther King, Jr

I wish for each of you peace today and everyday.

Sunrise October 2004

I'm in sort of a photographic, literary slump. Just not much to blog about. Well, that's not entirely true. There's tons going on but nothing that can be blogged about. You've all been there - especially if you have one or more teenagers in your home.

Since I've not been out taking many photos but feel compelled to keep this blog running and at least mildly interesting, I've decided to offer it up as a place of beauty and respite. Call up the photos and use them to focus while doing Yoga, if you like them save them as a screensaver (please ask me), or just simply enjoy them....or not.

Most of the sunrises and sunsets were taken when we first moved to the lake. At that time my husband had purchased our first digital camera. I was at that time a dedicated film snob and preferred my Canon EOS Elan II. However, I became fascinated with the digital process and especially enjoyed the instant gratification. No film to mess with, no waiting for development which could be such a disappointment. Shoot, download, voila! I fell in love with digital and promptly claimed the Sony Cybershot as my own. My trusty Canon EOS Elan II still sits at my side, but sadly is never used. Today, I use a Canon 20D with which I have a deep and true love affair.

The above shot was taken October 26, 2004 at 7:13am: F/4, 1/160 sec. ISO 100, 34mm focal length. That's another thing I love about digital - it collects all that data for me and it's always available.

For awhile I'll post some pretty pictures. Some will be old, some will be new. Simply enjoy them, breathe, and enjoy the rest of summer.

Meditations

American Coots

This is the second year that my friend, Carroll, and I have taken a drive to northwest Alabama in search of bald eagles. They do nest there, and the last I recall reading about their numbers there were up to 50 couples residing in the wild, rolling multi-clayed cliftsides of Waterloo and Pickwick Lake. This area is extremely isolated and Pickwick Lake, part of the rambling Tennessee River system, has gravelly shores perfect for eagle picnics.

Carroll and I decided "on the fly" to stop first at the North Alabama Birding Trail lookout point off the Natchez Trace. There we observed the American Coot Convention body-surfing on roiling waves kicked up by gusting 20mph winds. Very cold gusting 20mph winds, I might add. Barges lumbered silently by while we watched the coots bob in the waves and a gaggle of what appeared to be scaups float way out in the river channel. However, there were no eagles to be spotted. Our patience spent, we placed our cameras back in the car and continued our journey toward Waterloo.

Exposed Sycamore Tree Roots - very cool!

Right before the bridge leading into Waterloo we hung a right onto Highway #1 and slowly drove north deeper into eagle nesting country. We knew of a nest there, and we also knew that recent storms hit this area hard. Checking the status of the nest was critical to us, but first...we had to find it. Eventually, we saw it high in its tree seemingly all together and whole. No eagles sat upon it, no eaglets called for food. We heard no eagles above us, we saw no eagles flying around or fishing. This was not good.

Walking around the roadway, we had to dodge huge lumber trucks and ducked when two small lear jets dipped low over the area. Odd. The water was way down and very muddy from the storms, and the chop was fierce. Fishing must not be good for eagles in these conditions. We ate our lunch in the protection of my car, watched yet more coots and the ubiquitious seagulls and herons....but no eagles. Driving through this area beside the water damage from storms is obvious. Trees have been leveled but left for the wildlife by watershed teams, as it should be. We entertained ourselves briefly walking along the shoreline but it was too chilly and windy to really enjoy the moment.

Again, our patience was stretched thin. Strong, frigid, gusting winds making our eyes tear and numbed our ear lobes and noses and fingers, but no eagles. Just coots. Lots and lots of coots. We bid a silent goodbye to the hidden eagles and turned back for the last stop of the day - Wilson Dam.

Wilson Dam has a beautiful park with walking trails on the low side of the dam. There, one can usually spy eagles perched high on the clifts watching for fishes below. Today, the waterfalls are terrific thanks to recent rains. We watched chickadees dart among the cliftside foliage. We saw cormorants and seagulls but once again we are disappointed by our eagles. No sightings. Nothing.

Carroll attended an Eagle Awareness Week jaunt several years ago, and this was our second try of these same areas. Sadly, every year we have been disappointed. Next year we are abandoning Waterloo and traveling to another chosen spot. We were so excited after reading Jodi's blog (Bloomingwriter) about her eagle spotting trip - we just knew this was going to be our year....but no.

However, what was lost in eagle sightings we gained in meditations. We had a lovely day together in the sunshine and winds and nature, and enjoyed long periods of companionable silences that only good friends can share. Road trips are my meditations, and good friends are balms to my soul. We had sandwiches while jammed in the front of my Subaru while listening to Dave Matthews Band, laughed at our red noses during lengthy walks on windswept, misty shorelines, and chuckled at our silliness calling out "Here Eagle, Eagle, Eagle!" to the heavens. (...to no avail)

At the end of our trip we stood beside these beautiful, roaring waterfalls and tipped our faces into the icy mist that floated in the air, relishing our freedom and friendship. Road trips are my meditation.