one more for the reflection category

My mind is held this time of year. Yet, it's not the amazing Fall colours painting the landscape or the clouded mountains across the Straight, it's also the subtle dances and images on hidden waters.

There are countless shots of beauty. Yet, if you look a little more closely you'll see beauty's reflection on water in the shaded areas of dense forest. Depending on the sun's height, these reflections may appear to lay across the water or they may go straight into the water. Small pools in streams are choice because you can walk around them and find that just-right angle that will display these hidden-gem images.

I am drawn to the unknown and changing quality to them. A tiny ripple from a breeze will cast a different view, and they alter as quickly as the slightest unseen movement of the sun. A picture of them will rarely turn out as intended.

They remind me to tune into God and his movement and action in the - often - subtle and small, similary hidden spaces of life. The excitement on my child's face as he helps carve a pumpkin, his anticipation of a granola bar, the warmth of a fire, a clean pair of pants. All the things I take for granted or overlook in my search of bigger plans and better things.

This shot was taken at Esquimalt Lagoon.

I love the flattened appearance of the dead tree mixed against the coloured scrub brush.

reflection - maple and licorice ferns

autumn stream

What is the What

I picked up a copy of the book What is the What at Costco, that bastion of local wares and goods.

Written by Dave Eggers, it retells the story of one young boy who made the great march in the Sudan. Thousands upon thousands were orphaned as the government attacked many villages, killing family members. The boys were often in fields, herding, and were able to escape into the jungles hiking, sometimes for years, to Ethiopia or Kenya. So, this book retells the story of one boy and his long hike. It's very informative regarding the social injustice of this 2nd Sudanese Civil War. Moreso, it's deeply personal. It also provides a window into this guy's experience coming to America. (Around 4000 Lost Boys came to the U.S. and were given relief, but the "relief" was short-lived and resulted in significant social difficulties for them.)

Wow, that all sounds pretty depressing, yet it is really a triumph of a read.

more autumn

reflection

reflection of maple and autumn forest

This was taken at Gowland Tod park. GT is a large space with many trailheads. This section is on Wallace Rd, near Butchart Gardens. As you begin down the path, you will follow a stream. Within 5 or 10 minutes, there is a large tree that crosses the stream. Crossing it and carefully, you will find a trail that follows the stream on the other side. Beautifully hidden and unkown.

and here is today's word, boys and girls

Ah, I have been out of touch with this blog, my cyberspace coffeehouse. I'm not sure who all reads this thing, looks at the pics, etc. Life has been busy, lately, and this became low on the priority scale. However, I do have some pics from this wonderful time of year that I will begin posting.

And, as I have time, I will post a few thoughts regarding a Christian response to earth-stewardship. I've been slowly working on what I intend to be a book about this topic. Some of the posts in the past have connection to that project. Here and there, I'll drop a few new lines.