Connections Light Up for Us

Yesterday morning my family and I awoke at a farmhouse in Montgomery Center, Vermont, surrounded by over 100 acres of natural beauty. We were invited here by our close friends/neighbors who had it for the week, but it turns out I was at the family home of a beloved colleague.

While the men and boys skied, the females (my friend and I) trekked on the property. The snow was a perfect white blanket over the land, soft and yielding over our snowshoes, and the sun was a warm lamp overhead.

Shortly after we set out, we were joined by a bouncy black lab who exuded nothing but joy and who kept us smiling with his sprightly exploration of the land.

Jay Peak off in the distance was majestic and alluring and a soothing sight to behold.

Trekking toward the mountain, I felt a convergence, a deep connection with my friend, the dog, the mountain, the trees, the snow, and with my colleague whose family has cherished this land for decades. When we are quiet inside, connections light up for us, electrifying our paths and filling our spirits.

The Sun Always Soothes

Took a short walk in the neighborhood with hubby post-Nemo. Over the two-foot snowbanks, past the snow-laden homes and the fields, through the still and bare trees, beyond the untrekked conservation land, the sunset.

The Light Remains

 

Today I hiked the Stoneymeade Conservation area, shared by Acton and Concord, and was intrigued to find these concrete ruins shortly after beginning my walk. Quick research revealed that they are the remnants of WWII era bunkers.

As I walked along I came across the remnants of trees transformed into sculptures of the forest, like the root system of this fallen tree...

And this tree stump glacier...

...and the gazelle running out of this tree.

To me, all of these things were signs of precious lives lived. When we are peaceful, we leave behind us a trail of light that fades over time but never, ever goes out.

The Fire Burns Within

 

This winter our fireplace has been a source of immense warmth and peace in our home, and I have felt so fortunate. Today I sat mesmerized by the undulation of the flames, which were like dancing spirits performing just for me.

The hearth warms the home and, if we watch it carefully, we will feel our own fire burning within, stoked by the love that calls out to us every day.

The Fog Dissipates

This past weekend I put all my work down and I drove out to Walden Pond for some solitude out in nature. The fog on the pond created a stunning contrast to everything else.

The dried up leaves, the red twigs...

...the bare branches and the pine needles...

...even this simple wire fencing...they all emerged from the fog. When we embrace the fog in our lives, only then will it begin to dissipate.