Kathy and I walk in the North Saskatchewan River valley 3 or 4 times a week. As we walked today and came across this scene, it reminded of the Pete Seeger melody Turn, Turn, Turn using words adapted from Book of Ecclesiastes.
To Everything (Turn, Turn, Turn)
There is a season (Turn, Turn, Turn)
And a time to every purpose, under Heaven.
Kathy took this at the farm the other day. She called the Sun Set Tree. The sun briefly reached out and shone some rays down on an otherwise dreary day.
Blurry silhouette
Unnoticed against leaden backdrop
Feel so lonely.
The sun smiles gently
Shares tentative rays.
I receive its warming glow
Gather strength.
Reveal that hidden among shadows
Stretch boldly.
Smile with Brother Sun
A sacred moment.
Kathy was at the farm this weekend and found school notes she thought came from about Grade 10. I promised I would not say what year, but I was taken aback by how little things change over time. The “angry young poet” emerged from within.
The Establishment
They know best for the rest
Indoctrinate
Not change
Recall non-existent good old days.
Disagreement
Simply wrong-headed
Rebels
Who are we to question?
They have it made
Material wealth
Exclusionary tactics
Depend on them to know best.
Maintain existing order
Demand allegiance
Or cannot enter
Fail to practice what preach.
I keep blurry pictures. They remind me life is not always in sharp focus and there are times to step back, pause, and reflect.
The spirit wearies
A voice from within speaks
Seeks reflective time.
Quietly turn inward
Listen to an inner voice
Seek counsel and wisdom.
Pay homage and celebrate
While pain reveals character
New paths carved into wilderness.
Cherish each moment’s gift
Arrival and departure
Grateful for life.
It was a dreary day when we started home from Prince George, British Columbia but, when traveling in the mountains, that is a dynamic that adds to the view.
Barely on the road, we spotted a bear browsing on the shoulder above the highway about 10-15 metres from the car. We rolled the window down and he posed before disappearing from sight.
mountain peaks peek out
snow almost hidden from view
clouds blur the picture.
valley flowers bloom
richness on nature’s canvas
a soft brush at work.
Mount Robson revealed herself within a cloud-like frame pointing her majesty into the blue sky above. I enjoy taking pictures of Mount Robson when the clouds show something different.
I took this picture of Mount Robson a few days earlier. The white on the mountain is glacier or snow.
Kathy and I hiked a few hundred metres along the Berg Lake trail. We had not done this before, but it is a hike we will attempt next summer. I settled for this shot of Mount Robson which disappears from sight as you move along the path. In the foreground, is the Robson River which has its headwaters on Mount Robson and flows into the Fraser River a few kilometres further down the highway.
I borrowed this picture from Wikipedia, but a goal for next summer is to hike into Berg Lake, camp, and bring back pictures.
I received an award while we were on the road and took time to consider this one, as there were few rules, but it arrived at an opportune time. The blog recently surpassed 350 followers and has 1400+ likes which is remarkable as most growth occurred over the past 2 months while I rehabbed a weary body and spirit. I rediscovered some creativity and things that feed the spirit through the process. That is attributable to those who follow the blog, like it, and comment on it.
I received the award from Carolyn at ABC of Spirit Talk.
Carolyn has a diverse and award-winning blog with poetry, photographs, her love of nature, and reflects on many aspects of life. I enjoy her posts and look forward to the her surprises each day.
Carolyn indicated there was only one rule and that was to thank the person who nominated me.
THANK YOU Carolyn
She did pass the award on to me so I am passing it to two people. Melody at Meanwhile, Melody Muses is a daily respite for me. I look forward to her poetry and fantastic photography. The subtitle of her blog is:
“God’s not finished with me yet. Until then, I muse.”
and
The second blog is Mike at Mike’s Look at Life. Mike photographs the ordinary things I often pass daily and reveals their extraordinary nature for me. He shares a wicked sense of humour and his creativity through prose and poetry. The subtitle of his blog is:
“communicating issues around life including horrific loss and overwhelming joy, and many things in between.”
Kathy and I are back on the road this morning. It will be Monday before I post again. I disconnect to reconnect. I feel on the edge at this time of the week and summer. I go back to work next Wednesday and, for the first time in my career, I am not looking forward to going back. I am on the edge and find faith in something other than me.
Each step
Brings me to the edge.
Uncertain balance
On the edge.
Instability dances with stability
Harsh with the gentle.
Quiet the self
Hear the soul’s gentle words.
A still space reveals wisdom
A spirit of Faith.
Look forward;
Look down.
Go forward
Accept hands proffered in similar Faith.
I was sure I had visited Sunwapta Falls before, but, when we got there, it realized otherwise. Sunwapta River flows from Athabasca Glacier and the falls plunge over a hanging valley left by receding glaciers about 8000 years ago.
The path down to the overview above the falls is unique with the tree roots playing an integral role in the stairway. I got closer to the edge than I usually do. Initially, I was going to post a number of pictures, but changed my mind when I looked at this picture taken on my camera by Kathy.
Gnarled it wends
Nature’s stairway
Reveals beauty
Safely, I gain confidence.
I find a way
Previously impossible
Life now fuller, richer
Nature and creation await.
A ray shines down
Lights the path
Shines on each step
Of this ‘highway to heaven.’
This lonely tree stood all by itself on the crest surrounded by the pretty ones.
A true survivor
Separate from the crowd
You are on your own.
The elements take a toll
Your hair is thin
Your skin pale.
Yet, you stand straight
Limbs reach forward
Belief in something more.
Valued for who you are
Individual, non-conformist
Separate from the crowd.
Lonely, but not alone
Spacious solitude
Create your own beauty.
It was a perfect day. We wandered in Jasper, enjoyed great scenery, and I was with my favourite person.
We found the best at the end of the day. I posted a picture of a bull elk on Yellowstone 2005 in May. I took the picture from about 15-20 metres. Today, Kathy duplicated this with a picture of a cow elk chewing her cud. She seemed aware of our presence, but we were quiet and as others joined us in a secluded area she posed. The wall is about 1 metre thick wall and a similar height.
We hiked for two hours in the Valley of Five Lakes and could have spent more time exploring the small lakes. We crossed the Wabasso Creek and its valley before beginning our ascent. What is surprising about this hiking area, is it is only about 10 minutes from the town site.
We had no easy access to the first lake (they are unnamed), but I used the trees to frame the lake and its prettiness. One of the things we noted about all the lakes was the way they mirrored their surroundings.
The second lake mirrors the mountains and trees vividly in shimmering waters below.
The third lake is a deep green and is very deep in the middle. This lake reflected clouds and trees. The green appeared to be algal growth and not from the source of the water.
We could not get a good angle for pictures of the fourth lake, but it was the home of frolicking dragonflies. Kathy captured this one with amazing patience.
We only got glimpses of the fifth lake. Thick foliage and steep banks surrounded it. We tried several different paths but to no avail. One thing along the paths was the frequency of large rocks left by glaciers which formed this valley and its small lakes.
I enjoy Robert Frost’s The Road Less Traveled. As we began our hike, we saw this path and wondered where it went, but stayed on the main path. As we climbed back out of the Valley of Five Lakes we had a choice: go right or go left. We chose right and found ourselves on the path we wondered about almost two hours before. We took the road less traveled. It was a challenging part of the trip physically.
And, at the end,
We emerged at the beginning
At the trail head,
Mountains rediscovered
Blue skies gone
Clouds not only threatened;
They delivered a promise
Like our day.
Teacher as Transformer 
