The Beauty Within

“Though we travel the world over to find the beautiful, we must carry it with us, or we will find it not.” 

Ralph Waldo  Emerson

I picked up this quote recently from a book I was reading on photography. Since I have retired I have had a lot of opportunity to see the “beauty of creation” in the many hikes and the great travel that I have enjoyed. On our long Camino walk through Spain, we certainly had a lot of time outdoors seeing some of the natural beauty of Spain. Yet this quote is an excellent reminder that it is the “beauty within” that really matters.

Just like a beautiful sunrise, can cause us to pause and be pulled into the natural beauty of creation, I think this can also be true when we see “real beauty” in those around us. Yesterday, I witnessed one of the most beautiful memorial services I have even been at. It was the “celebration of life” memorial for my Son-in Law’s grandmother. The stories from families and friends painted a most beautiful picture of a life lived with grace, strength and resolve and most of all love. The “beauty within” her life was unmistakable and real!

Beauty is within and we do carry it with us. Let us remember this as we live each day. May we be a “beautiful sunrise” of love and service to all.

Blessings,

John

Photograph of the Week

Seeing the Beauty

During a hike to Bridal Veil Falls this past week, I was hiking along down the trail heading out when I turned and looked back and saw the sun shining through the trees on the horizon above. I used my new Nikon Coolpix Superzoom to capture what I was seeing. I used my skills in post processing to bring out even more.

 

 

 

 

 

Reflect More, Risk More, Do More

I read an article that referenced a survey was taken of fifty people over the age of ninety. They were asked, “If you could live your life all over again, what would you do differently?” Their responses boiled down to three answers:

1. Reflect more. 2. Risk more. 3. Do more—especially more things that would touch other people.

I really thought these three answers were very insightful and true. We certainly took on all three of these actions by walking the Camino. We knew we were stepping out and taking on something much bigger than we had ever done before. We were getting out of our comfort zone. Real risk was present. As I mentioned, the walk is a great way to really have time to reflect on life and you certainly touch a lot of other lives of fellow pilgrims from all other the world. These three ways to live life are really important and walking the Camino really reinforced this for us.

So what is it that is stopping us from living this way everyday? I suspect it stems from our fears. Fear of the unknown, fear of silence, fear of what others will think or fear of failure. I feel fear drives a lot of decisions we later regret in our lives.

Let’s all drive out those fears in our lives. They do not serve us well. Hopefully when we all get to our nineties we will feel good about how we have lived and have few regrets.

 

Blessings,

John

Photograph of the Week

Boat Haven

I was very excited when I took this image as I had a good feeling it would turn out special and it indeed did! This is taken at Port Townsend in the marina called Boat Haven. It was mid day and the lighting was perfect.