Enchantment

It felt like a dream. I had arrived yesterday on the Isle of Skye in Scotland. With jet lag behind me, I began to explore this beautiful place.

There’s something about Skye. Lovely people, abundant nature and wildlife, stunning scenery. But it’s more than that. For me, it felt a bit surreal…enchantment was in the air.

My human mind wanted to know what this adventure was all about, but my heart was willing to allow things to unfold in their own time.

I was reminded of a quotation by the writer, Henry Miller, ‘One’s destination is never a place, but rather a new way of seeing things.’

And I knew there was much more to come…

(Additional photos:  wandernature.com/new-photos)

Change

A few days ago, I watched this beautiful river change color as the sunlight shifted. And I was reminded of a quotation I once read, ‘No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it's not the same river and he's not the same man.’

Change is the rule rather than the exception in the natural world. Each time I return to a wandering place, something’s different…a tree has lost its leaves, a flower has bloomed, a nest has appeared high on a branch.

Change rules our everyday world as well. Sometimes in the midst of my happiest moments, I wish I could hold on to the feeling forever. But I know it’s not to be, and the roller coaster of life continues.

Deep down, I know there’s one constant in the shifting reality of life. It’s a knowing that there’s a loving force beyond my human understanding, available in each moment.

And when I remember to ask for assistance, the roller coaster slows a bit and the ride seems less intense.

I’m grateful for the reminder that we’re not alone on this magnificent adventure…

(New photos on website Gallery:  wandernature.com/new-photos)

Reflection

Yesterday, I was sitting by this beautiful river when four young hikers appeared. They greeted me, and then three of them continued their conversation about where to go to lunch. They appeared unaffected by their surroundings.

But the fourth person, a young man, was immediately captivated by the river. He moved towards the water and sat quietly. When his friends urged him to leave, he took one last look at the lovely scene and reluctantly followed them.

I’ve heard it said that each person we encounter reflects some aspect of ourselves, qualities that we all share as humans. Sometimes the reflected qualities are positive, sometimes they’re qualities that are ready to be examined and altered.

I realized all four people reflected parts of myself. The three that were deep in conversation about lunch represented the part of me that’s caught up in the distractions of the everyday world.

The pensive young man reflected the aspect of me that is mesmerized by the Earth. The quiet introspective part that feels a deep connection to the natural world.

How interesting it is to look in the mirror and see the reflections...

(New photos on website Gallery:  wandernature.com/new-photos)