stevelinebaugh
Today I spent the afternoon outdoors. I had enough silence and nature to truly ground me. On the way home I stopped by a local lake of which I would normally complain about an over abundance of concrete.
I walked along a path to the lake and the sun was going down behind an old Willow tree and I felt an excitement, a presence I haven’t felt in quite a while.
The holidays were rough, filled with stress and realizations we don’t necessarily want to deal with, especially during the holidays. Loneliness, age and that gap between lives, not complaining but the season tends to heighten my awareness of everything both good and bad.
After an exhausting day where I hadn’t worried about anything but the next hill to hike, I got to watch the sunset. As I photographed one shot another image showed itself. The light changed and a silence came to me that was a moment of divine intervention.
The sun slowly fell beneath the clouds and the lake lit up with a light that was particularly special. The gentle ripples in the water echoed the stillness of the lake making me feel peaceful and calm. In the silence I had a realization, everything would be just fine.
I laughed out loud, the few fishermen probably thought I was crazy. It was a feeling of calm that moved me. I had not photographed for quite some time where I felt such awe.
Just as quickly as the divine presence made itself known, the sun was gone and the light dimmed. I walked back to the car with a feeling of purpose and a certainty that everything was going to be okay.
Faith and it’s epiphanies are very subtle, you have to be still and available for them. I hope you get the same sense of awe that I got in shooting these images.
Just WOW! I always love photos of sun over water — something magnificent about it. A mixture of peace, joy and melancholy all at the same time.
I really give you so much appreciation for this challenge-it is amazing-I’m getting more disciplined in my choosing subjects and finding the image. I am so happy you got me started on this project. Thanks for commenting.
I was glad that not only you accepted the challenge but also actually participated in it. Some would confirm but after nomination would change their minds ?
Yes, you nailed it on the peace, joy and melancholy-it is a moment of awe and one I’ve been needing for quite a while.
Well whatever it is you are going thru I hope that you will trust and surrender it to Life and God…and I am happy that this challenge brought you something positive
You have described my feelings I have while watching the sunset from my deck. There is always a sort of divine intervention that happens. Cannot truly be explained. I often feel the presence of my lost loved ones. This is why I call it sunset therapy. Again, your photos are stunning.
I wish you a very Happy New Year. I am so glad the holidays are over.
I’ve said it before-if you believe in ghosts or spirits or a presence you can only understand it if you’ve felt it. You can explain everything away with coincidence and mind science but I know there is an amazing presence when you connect with God and I’m so glad you get it-again also with the dear departed as well.
It is what keeps me going. I keep an open mind.
Nice post! Nice pictures!