Beauty

I can hardly believe that it has been a week since my last blog posting. Where has the time gone? We are experiencing heavy rain today, so I am enjoying the dry warmth and comfort of my cozy writing corner and some quiet time to write after a busy weekend of company.

The unpacking is all done, but my blog has still been pretty quiet these days hasn't it? As my mind continues to spin and whirl with the multitude of fine-tuning tasks arising from the move, I find it hard to sit still and write instead of jumping up and doing. Soon, soon, I will get back into the groove and be able to relax and write. Let's see if the sound of the rain hitting the window helps me to relax this morning so I can put something down on "paper" today.

This new nest is much smaller than our old one, and has given me a challenge or two when it comes to fitting what I think I cannot live without into a much smaller space. I am happy to report that I am slowly making progress though, and I am finding spots for most things. Slowly is the operative word here.

We took advantage of the sunshine and blue skies the other day and biked along the new trail I mentioned in my last blog, to the little Hamlet of Appleby. There was no Great Lake to greet us at the end of our ride, but the gentle Mississippi River kept us company all along the route and added its own beauty to the adventure. At one point on the path we came upon the remains of this old mill.



I just had to stop and take a picture. It had definitely seen better days, and was in a state of ruin, but what a beauty it was, standing there proud and tall. In some ways I felt on the inside exactly how this old mill looked on the outside; a bit rattered and tattered from the strain of the move, and crumbling here and there from the upheaval. As I stood there taking pictures I thought about life and all that it throws our way from time to time. I had been in a state of upheaval since we started down this road towards our move, but what I had experienced was nothing compared to what others were facing in New Orleans. God help them.

I took comfort from this old mill that day. It was what it was, and stood proud and tall speaking to me of all it had been through and the storms it had endured. Its past gave it more beauty than many a new building could ever hope to have.

Some days we might feel like we are storm ravaged and crumbing here and there from what life has sent our way, but if we stand tall and hold our ground and just be who we are, we will add beauty to the world around us. All those dings and gouges add to the depth of shadow which only serves to highlight the rich beauty of who we really are.

A lifetime isn't long enough for the beauty of this world and the responibilities of your life. Mary Oliver