Spirits Soar in Nature

This morning I went to the river ceremony in Concord to watch the launching of the Earth Day floats.

The ceremony kicked off the 22nd annual Musketaquid Earth Day celebration. As each float was set adrift..

...it followed the current to join a flotilla of care and concern for the environment.

And as I took time to celebrate the Earth, my spirit was soaring with its love.

Darkness Envelops Us

Today I hiked the low-lying, wet Guggins Brook Conservation Land.

Several boardwalks, like this one, crossed the abundant streams and wet areas along the trails.

In many spots, the water was channeled through culverts to create gentle trickling sounds.

Here the branches in the reflections blended with those on the surface to simulate a cross emerging from the depths to erect itself in the mud.

I sat for a while and contemplated this land of the dark waters. Darkness envelops us and, if we allow it, helps us to distinguish the beauty on the other side.

Our Path Supports Us

While hiking today at the arboretum I found myself working hard not to think about all I had to do this weekend. As I walked I gradually surrendered to the path and left behind all judgment and concern.

Our path supports us and just having one to stand on, be it clear or blocked, means that we are still here.

Beauty Bursts Forth

Last October we thought we lost the callery pear tree in our front yard after a rare fall storm that dumped lots of wet, heavy snow throughout the East Coast.

Neither the storm nor the mornings of frost from last week could hold this young tree back from blooming this spring.

It burst forth to reveal its beauty alongside the Japanese Maple across the driveway...

...and reminded me that resilience and perseverance long outlast adversity.