The View to the West

So, I was returning to my home through the neighborhood and coming up the little slope as I approached our house and yard. Suddenly a bald eagle swooped down between Dave and Rick’s houses, soaring in six feet above the ground, sailing out across my entire front yard and continuing down the middle of the street, just cruising easy like he does this all the time. Breathtaking.

Moments like this cannot be planned. They just come. They startle us with their magnificence, and we are shaken into an awareness of the raw loveliness and beauty and a thousand other things that make up this world. We are made aware once again that life is more than acquiring stuff or meeting some objective set by others. It is made of splendor and wonder. We all know this, but sometimes it takes an eagle to shake us from our fitful sleep.

The same is true of good memories. I think it is important to savor them long, to hold them in our minds and hearts and let them do their work. It is good for us to remember, especially beautiful things. To let them sink down deep into our souls and soften us. For the world and the pressures of a day seem to harden and rob our tender hearts of those many little joys abounding all the time. Pleasant memories are good friends and we need to bring them along on our journey.

My wife and I often walk in Birch Island Park. It is a relatively small park but a treasure. We usually stop along the western ridge trail looking off to the west. In the late afternoon the sun is making its way and the view is spectacular. We are compelled to stop. It would be an offense to simply rush by without a glance. God has painted another spectacular view and we must see it.

Original photograph taken 17 Nov 2023, watercolor painted 21 Jan 2024

Last weekend we were up north visiting relatives. I had some time, so I pulled out my miniature watercolor kit and dabbled a little. I have shared it above.

It is important for us to stop and consider, to pause in the rush and appreciate the raw beauty of things. This memory is from a photograph that chronicles our countless views from this point along the single-track trail. Oh, it is just a memory but it is a sweet memory and I would not exchange it for anything. We all have these moments. I was fortunate to have a little time to capture mine in a watercolor.

Whether you have watercolors or not, each of us need moments to dabble in, good memories to restore our flagging spirits. We crave these brief renewing interludes for they call us to attend to those things beyond, to think on things beautiful, things carrying the sweetness and touch of the One who made them.

 So, what is your view to the west, what good memories touch you and gently and lift your spirit? These are things to make time for.

Henry

If you are not familiar with my Substack essays A Curious Light, please give them a taste, it is free, and consider becoming a regular reader/subscriber. If you signup today, my essay What an Amazing Thing will conveniently arrive in your mailbox 1 February 2024. I look forward to seeing you among my subscribers.