Tag: quiet places

Natural Lifestyle 

Back and White Photography, Thoughts and Musing

Nature doesn’t hurry, yet everything is accomplished. – Lao Tzu 

I have come to despise clocks.  It seems like every second of the day is regulated and choreographed according to the clock.  Our high tech society should be sophisticated enough by now to allow for a more organic life.  I  don’t need to go into the details of timecards and obligations or deadlines and expectations. Suffice it to say that that most people these days are so preoccupied with keeping life organized and running smoothly that the joy of living is missed.  When it comes right down to it, it seems that most of today’s problems stem from the desire to live in liberty vs the obligations of Society.  It’s important to take time out and find a balance. 

When I observe the patterns found in nature they are a blend of the highly structured and the organic.  And there’s always room for joy. 

The small snail shell was found on a trail at the Scenic Overlook of Hawks Nest State Park in Ansted West Virginia. The park is seated on the rim of the New River Gorge  above a flood control dam.  

As observe the shell I see the highly organized structure.  The spiral is formed by a natural process.  It doesn’t stress out about the calculations needed to form the symmetry. The snail didn’t consult with an engineer to know it’s shell needed ridges for strength in the structure.  It simply grows into what it was meant to be.  

Even though the surrounding environment seems random there’s a natural flow of the organic that is based on highly organized.  The texture of the stone us formed by complex and organized crystalline structures. The twisted and gnarly branches of the trees and bushes are based on the structure complex sugars and interlinking molecules that determine how much to twist and what part of the tree should be stiffer and where it needs to be flexible.  

All of it was accomplished by life growing into the details and patterns granted by God at creation.   

Am I suggesting that we need to give up all of civilization and return to the wilderness? Not exactly.  But as I stated earlier,  I do think that our society is out of balance.  And I also think that regaining that balance will depend upon the individual seeking out their own patterns and growing into the details. 

Sunday 

black and white photography, Church, Sunday, Uncategorized
  • Growing up in the Bible belt I’ve been blessed to have the opportunity to visit a lot of small churches.  In the days before the mega church and when there was nobody selling religion.  The churches of small communities were places where families gathered to hear the word of God and not just what the preacher said.  We knew good and well that nobody can buy a ticket to heaven with money or goid works.   Vain obligations were just that. We resisted judging each other because we were justified by the blood of Christ and not by works or money.  Church is a place for bonding not bondage.  
  • The architecture of small community churches is something special.  Everything from little cabins to scaled down cathedrals can be found tucked into Appalachian landscape.  Bells and spires are sometimes  topped with crosses and sometimes not. 
  • The ringing of the church bell was a special privilege.  Young people (mostly boys) would like up and take turns tugging on the rope. In trutruth we just liked making noise.  
  • After church service extended family would get together at the home place for a large meal. The cooks would all gather in the kitchen and soon the house was full of wonderful smells the sounds of laughter.  During the warm weather the children be outside trying to have fun without getting dirty. That’s a very difficult skill to master for a 10 year old boy.  I can still smell my grandmother’s homemade bread when I think about it.  

Obstacles 

black and white photography, Uncategorized

We all have those times when we wish we could just make a little progress.   It’s seems that something is always stopping progress towards a goal. If you’re like me then you double down on your determination and push forward with all your might. But sometimes an obstacle is there for a purpose.  In this case the fence is there because its keeping people from getting to close to edge of the New River Gorge.   

Quiet Time 

black and white photography, Uncategorized

I’m a person who values solitude. We as modern humans are bombarded with stimulus from every angle.  Voices tell us to dress a certain way, go to certain places and pretty much influence every aspect of life.  (Don’t even get me started on the “buy this or fail to be popular ” voice).

This park bench sets in the back of a office building.  It’s a refuge for those who just need a quiet place to breathe.   The day that I took the picture the rain served as an extra layer of protection from the outside world.  The noise of other conversations, intrusion from others and even the excessive cologne from that one person in every crowd is washed away by the falling drops of rain.  

It’s a time to decompress and renew my sense of self.  On this bench I belong to me.  Each drop that hits the cement pad ripples out as a tiny wave to push away the world.  

Sitting in the rain on a cold winter day may not make sense to most people but for me it’s way to clean the day’s mental and emotional clutter from the soul.