Simplicity

The sun rose like a stealth bomber this morning. There was no fanfare, no pomp and circumstance. There were no clouds and very little colour. The sun just crept up quietly and took its place in the sky above the cedar trees. Canoe lake was almost flat as ice but the loons were singing up a storm piercing the dawn with their haunting calls.

I am sitting here at the end of the dock obscured by the sailing lookout, hidden in solitude to watch the rest of the sunrise. I love these moments. There is real joy to be had in the simple, quiet moments in life. There is no chatter either outside or in. My senses are alive with life. I am reminded of the simple pleasures afforded by my senses. Peace follows simplicity. Seek simplicity and undoubtedly peace will be lurking in the same place.

Rays of Light

I am still in awe of this morning's sunrise. It coloured all if the random clouds in the sky with a pink glow. But, most impressive was the extent of the rays of light from the sun. They were long, wide, golden beams that reached up into infinity.

Love permeates outward. It starts in my heart, in your heart ad moves in concentric circles out to infinity. We don't need to do anything to ensure love's radiance. We just need to make sure that we aren't obstructing its flow. Live is who we are at the core and it flows from person to person and object to object in the same way that water flows downhill. Love is not an emotion. It's a verb and it is our sole purpose in life.

Fast and furious

The sunrise seemed to come out of nowhere today. That could be partially due to the fact that I got up a little late today. Nonetheless, the sun was up, the mist was burning off Canoe lake and the air was heating up in no time.

Some days feel slow and other days feel fast. Everything feels urgent and charged on days that feel fast. Even tempers flare easily on such days. These are good days to practice pausing before acting in order to get some perspective. It doesn't always happen but it is a good idea. Think before you act is good advice.

Anxious

Usually the sun rises quietly in Algonquin Park this late in the summer. Usually there is a lazy mist on the water and a chill in the air. Not today. Today the sun was anxious to get up in the sky and the wind anxious to blow across the lake. I think it's going to be very hot today.

Do you remember getting so excited in anticipation as a child? It seemed the day would never come. It seemed as though you would burst with enthusiasm. Where does that feeling go? Why don't more adults run and jump for the sheer joy if anticipating the next activity? Perhaps we should examine how much of our life is worthy of such an activity. I think we need a little more fun!!

Hidden Beauty

Fog was abundant this morning as it usually is this time of year. It's hard to observe a sunrise that is obscured by thick layers of cool mist. But I still knew it was there behind the mist slowly heating it into obscurity.

Things aren't always what they seem. Just when you feel like giving up then you get a break or there is a breakthrough of some kind. Just when I thought this day was going to be foggy all day, the sun ripped through an opening and then proceeded to burn up all of the fog in an instant. Breakthroughs can happen that fast. It seems as though nothing is happening at all. It feels like you have been stuck in the same place forever and then BLAM you get a breakthrough and you can't believe that you ever felt stuck at all.

Different Stages

The sky is filled with different types of clouds this morning. Between the different types there are huge expanses of clear sky which are filled with various gradations of yellow, orange and red light. Above that the sky is steel grey. The contrasts are stunning and each stage is completely different.

It makes me think of growth stages in life. Life is essentially a series of growth stages. You are either in one, starting one or ending one. Of course, there is that brief blissful period between growth stages where you just are. Each stage has its own beauty. When you surrender to the fact that life is simply a series of growth periods then it seems to be easier to navigate the stage you happen to be in. Basically, if you are alive then you are always growing.

A New Day

This dawn was stunning. Strong golden light emanated from the sun as it made its way up into the sky. The light touched everything around it casting each thing in a eerie glow. It wasn't so much coloured as it was light. Gold was the only way to describe the colour and that doesn't do it justice.

Even after the longest dry spell or the harshest night, there is always a new day which promises new possibilities. When things have been particularly tough, it is very comforting to remember the wise adage "this too shall pass". It always does, without fail. Sometimes it seems as though hard times will last forever. But things always change. In fact, that is the only thing to be certain of. That things will change. And when they do, you can begin the cycle anew looking forward to another opportunity to grow, evolve, love and laugh.