Late Summer Grace

I began my morning walk on a path that I often follow, the one that is catty-corner across the street from our house. The path goes down a steep hill and then beside a pond and through the trees for about half a mile. With today’s humidity I welcomed the shade above my head. As I walked under the trees’ shady boughs I gave thanks for

The magic of this simple path never ceases to astonish me. Birds, wildflowers, ducks in the pond, squirrels scampering, and the grace of trees surround me. The path borders many shady backyards and I love seeing the gardens, flags, and signs that I find there.

ANGELS You might see an angel anytime and anywhere. Of course you have to open your eyes to a kind of second level, but it’s not really hard. The whole business of what’s reality and what isn’t has never been solved and probably never will be. So I don’t care to be too definite about anything. I have a lot of edges called Perhaps and almost nothing you can call Certainty. For myself, but not for other people. That’s a place you just can’t get into, not entirely anyway, other people’s heads. I’ll just leave you with this. I don’t care how many angels can dance on the head of a pin. It’s enough to know that for some people they exist, and that they dance.”
― Mary Oliver, Blue Horses: Poems

Continuing to Learn

I took my old camera with me on my walk today, just because I hadn’t used it in awhile. It was like taking a walk with an old friend. And I enjoyed using it again. As I experiment more with my new smaller camera I am learning that there are things I don’t like as well with it. I guess the new camera honeymoon is over.

However, I believe that I will discover camera settings that will overcome the issues I’ve seen. It will just take time for me to experiment and learn how to achieve my goals. Whichever camera I carry, it is a tool for helping me to discover beauty and grace.

…I got saved by poetry, and I got saved by the beauty of the world. — Mary Oliver

I am actually quite happy having a choice between the two cameras. And I’ve noticed that my wrist and hand pain have almost disappeared since I stopped carrying the heavy camera everywhere. As in every aspect of life, finding a balance between desire and necessity is a constant puzzle.

What are your plans for these last beautiful days of summer?

May you walk in beauty.