Tag: refuge

Rechargeable People

black and white photography, Summerville

I’m all out of deep thoughts today. Sometimes you just need to sit down and calmly recharge. It’s okay. Even Kal-El ( aka Superman) needed a day off to just go be Clark Kent. However, I’ll take a quiet spot on the lake over a frozen fortress any day.

This fishing peer on Summerville Lake in West Virginia is one of my many fortresses of solitude. It’s not that I’m really alone there, it’s actually a popular place. But it’s also a place where I feel free enough to put away the person who the world sees. I can tuck my cape into my shirt, slide on my glasses and pretend to be normal for a little while.

A Trip To The Meadow River. 

Color Photography, The Meadow River

Today is dreary day in the mountains of Appalachia.  There’s been heavy rain and gray skies all day. By morning the ice and snow is supposed to return.  On days like today I like to look at the summer images that I’ve taken.  It makes me feel like I’m sitting by one of our rivers with a Zebco 33 and one of my favorite lures.  The simple repetitive action of casting and slowly drawing the line back in has a meditative quality for me.  I don’t even really care if anything bites. Like Zen archery ( or at least my understanding of it ) it’s all about clearing the mind and regaining focus.  The image above was taken on the Meadow River during one of these trips. The spot is known mostly to locals and I’m sworn to secrecy as to the exact spot.  Behind me a small campfire crackles softly making just enough smoke to keep mosquitoes away.  It didn’t seem to bother the butterflies that danced and played on the buttonbush.  I made one last cast into the river and slowly retrieve.  There’s a tug on the other end of line. But, I let him go. Sometimes  is not about the fish,  it’s about the fishing and memories that are made. 

Cathedral Falls,  A Natural Sanctuary

Color Photography, travel

About one mile East of Gauley Bridge West Virginia is Cathedral Falls.  The cascade of water is about 60 feet high and the stream that feeds the falls is call Cane Branch.  The little roadside park is easy to access so I stop by often.  The path to the base of the falls is left in what is best described as a natural state. If you are sure-footed it’s no big deal.  I water is only ankle deep in most places and if you can avoid slippery rocks you can walk right up the stream.  If you can be there in the right light it’s one of our best photo ops.  The image here was taken in the Spring.  The air at Cathedral Falls is highly oxygenated due to the cascade.  It’s a good place to go and just quietly exist as part of God’s creation.  The cascading water seems to carry away the stress and anxiety that clings to the soul after a day of making modern life work.  Green ferns and moss grows everywhere in the canyon.  Birds and butterflies are often present.  The birds sing their songs and butterflies seem to dance to the tune.  

Cathedral Falls is one of God’s special spots.  I’m happy to share it with you but you should see it for yourself.  

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.  

The Beacon..part 2

digital art, Fiction Story, short stories, The Beacon

This is second render of the lighthouse.  For this version I used the same lighthouse base image.  I added rain drops from the windshield of my truck.   I also wanted a brighter feeling to this one as if the storm was almost gone.  

The younger person draws the blanket around himself like a robe. His hands are heavily calloused from the time spent at sea.  His jet black hair hung coarse strands from being wet. The fire reflected in his dark eyes as he gazes at the flames.  The shock of his experience weighs on his very soul.  The old caretaker sets a thick earthenware mug of hot coffee on the table and slides it to him.  There’s no need for words. They only understand a few words of each other’s languages anyway.  They are brothers of the sea.  As they communicate with the few words and gestures the dawn breaks and the storm retreats.   The new day brings peace and with it new future.  

The story above is an excerpt from one of the many stories that I have in progress.   Inspection seems to come in spurts.  I will add more to the story as  time and inspiration allow.