There's an entire city out there, filled with people. But out of all those people, they found each other: he is the one for her; and she is the one for him.
Throughout life, they'll brush shoulders with all sorts of people, but the one they'll hold close, real close, is each other.
Twilight, eventide, dusk, the gloaming hour -- we have so many ways of describing sunset, a time of calmness and contemplation that literally provides a beautiful end to the day.
All roads lead someplace but not all at the same pace. And that's a good thing to remember when we find ourselves on the leisurely, winding roads of a country landscape. We won't get to where we're going quickly, but if we're wise, we'll enjoy the process.
The interesting thing about this building is that, essentially, it's just a large box -- but it is the little things, the details throughout, that prevent it from being so.
Built in 1876, the Columbia County Courthouse exhibits a craftsmanship that today's minimalist, "efficient" structures often lack.
When the world outside is completely white (as mine is right now), it's difficult to picture the many colors of the landscape, especially in spring or autumn.
That's the beauty of the seasons, and the weather -- neither is stagnant, static, stuck, nor frozen. They are dynamic and alive.
When we focus on doing something we enjoy -- putting our mental and physical energy to its success, concentrating our intellect upon it -- we derive enjoyment and satisfaction from the process.
It doesn't matter what it is -- it's gratifying. Which means . . . it's not a bad idea to do this more.
For days the blue waters of the Adriatic Sea had been calm and still, but on this day, a storm was brewing. Wind whipped up the waves, and clouds grew and grew until they appeared to fill the sky.
It looked like rain was on its way, but she wasn't ready to leave yet. Nature was putting on too good of a show.
So often to see clearly, you have to get out and away from impediments blocking you -- whether you're in the middle of a forest or a city. When you step into a place that gives you a 360 degree view, you're able to see so much more of landscape, sky, and perspective.
I never drive by this particular landscape without looking at that clump of trees in the back right and thinking about the homestead that used to be there.
It's a reminder to me that we're not on this earth forever, and to use the time we do have wisely and well.
It's easy to forget, when I go to the coast, that I'm just skirting the edge of the ocean -- its vastness and teeming world of life is beyond my sight, under water and in the depths.
Now and then a reminder of this is flung onto shore, like the piles of kelp, once part of a marine garden, now jumbled upon the sand.
New year, old year, middle of the year -- the deepest dreams and hopes in our hearts are not something we make resolutions to have or keep; they are simply there, living, breathing, and growing within our innermost being.
May you find the path to walk upon, leading to the fulfillment of those dreams.
At the close of a sunny winter day, you are on a walk in the fresh snow amongst a copse of small, young trees. As the sun descends, the sky transforms into a glow of pink and peach, and a cold breeze glances, bitingly, across your face.
It feels like it's time to go in to a warm place, but you don't want to miss this sunset . . .
Life is an adventure! May the artwork encourage you that the many twists and turns on our journey give us different perspectives on the landscape around us.
Even on busiest days, it's worth taking time to be with, listen to, talk and laugh with a family member or friend, because relationships are what feed our souls. Without the warm touch of other humans, we risk isolating ourselves in cold darkness.
It is one of those places of profound stillness and calm where you stand at the edge and hear the wind through the trees: sometimes it keens and moans, other times it murmurs, sibilantly, in a whisper.
But it is a place of peace, where the "news" and the noise of the day have no power.
Hate is an intriguing phenomenon. It builds fences between people, blocking them from gathering together, communicating, asking questions of one another and listening to the answers.
It precludes the building of meaningful relationships, as well as prevents us from seeing how we ourselves can change.
In this place, you are hidden away, tucked into a sanctuary of serenity and slow moving water. So slowly does the stream flow that you can see the reflection of the trees in it.
May the puzzle be pleasurable and fun, and may you fall gently into the joy of fitting all the pieces together. (My wife and I enjoy doing jigsaw puzzles; it's very restful to concentrate on something other than "current events.")
When I was a kid, summer was a longed-for time of freedom from the schoolroom. Finally, instead of looking out the window and daydreaming (when I wasn't doodling on the margins of my notebook) I was free to actually be in the landscape, with time to pretend, imagine, think, wonder and simply enjoy each and every moment.