Glimmers of the Hidden Depths III

So much of who and what we are is expressed in the world around us.
Beauty and eternal love express themselves in the physical world, an embodiment of the character and personality that even in its vastness persistently engages and sustains us. A foundation under girding and engaging us as we explore what we see and do not see, what we know and what lies hidden just above or below the surface.

Glimmers of the Hidden Depths II

So much of the world is outside from under our easy observation. Even what we do see, so sweetly glosses over deeper realities that reside mostly unobserved and hardly imagined by surface dwellers.

Taking in the beauty that glitters on the surface does not necessarily allow us to appreciate the wonder and intimacy of deeper things.

The six-week old Gray Whale calf (at left) almost fills the frame while its mother hangs close, under girding the infant’s explorations. Her presence is so large and foundational that we can’t quite take in the whole scene.

What a joy to exist above and below and know the wonder of each, allowing the pleasures of air and water to augment the gift of the other. “But don’t forget to breathe,” she prepares to sing.

Glimmers of the Hidden Depths I

So much of our awareness glimmers over unsuspected and hidden depths. Perhaps heaven playfully expresses itself in the beauty and gift of the wider physical world within our view, while just outside our immediate awareness, wider discourse waits – as layers of a conversation just waiting to be perceived and engaged. Duets play around us mimicking the score just waiting to be shared and appreciated.

Morning Mists

For a moment between sleep and awake, where dreaming slips away with light and from dreams the world emerges. There, for one moment, whole.

There and then, bridging the divide that hides a greater truth. Then to see and imagine and know ourselves and our existence not only enfleshed but also released.

That is the fleeting glimpse of all that speaks the truth of self, the world and the one who knows both.

(Shannon and spent our honeymoon in the San Juans of Washington State. On our last day we anchored off Spencer Spit on Lopez island and had a relaxing beach fire and walk. A great way to wrap up our time in the San Juans. The next morning as I prepared the boat to leave this scene greeted me. To me it represented the wonderful time we enjoyed there and offered farewell as we headed back into our everyday lives and responsibilities.)

"Adventure is a gateway to self discovery."

We've all heard it said, "the longest journey begins with but a single step." It really has become a trite, silly true-ism, especially from the position of not having ventured or extended ourselves beyond what is familiar, comfortable or habitual. However, when we have accomplished what is meaningful and valuable to us (a relationship, a journey, a feat of endurance) we discover that what we know of ourselves and the world around us has blossomed.

Here we discover that new seeds have been planted within us and our hearts rejoice at the curious and intricate detail that make up our world and our place it in. I think hope and faith are planted in us in these moments. The space within us where they grow is cultivated by these experiences. Here the beginnings of abundant life take root. Perhaps it is true that the best way to understand our place in the world is get up and walk around it and perhaps even leave it for a while. When we return, then it will be possible to posses it and abound within it.

It is not an accident that our legs are naturally built to take us on a journey, no surprise then that our hearts also wish us to explore, discover and extend ourselves. These are the first stirrings of faith.