OJM 6 Reflection by Liz Sorensen Wessel: Parting with apt affection I embraced and bid Tom farewell; his care package in hand for the long trip home. The road hugged the river’s edge, we passed the covered bridge on the left and I felt compelled to stop at the Old Jelly Mill, a hidden jewel but well known to local Vermonters. OJM 7

Memories flowed upstream, of teen years, a leisure summer afternoon with Jean relaxing on natures cool granite, lulled by a gentle breeze with trees splaying dappled sunlight; engrossed in the story of “Siddhartha” by Herman Hesse.

A poignant recollection surfaced as well, of friends shouldering each other in a circle of solidarity, grieving the loss of Billy. In naked vulnerability we confronted the reality of deaths grasp on one so young. Momentarily the veil lifted and for an inkling we were keenly aware of our aliveness. 

Pleasant thoughts too, of family and dear ones who were drawn into a familiarity of old friends, accepting nature's invitation OJM VT 11 2017 to linger awhile without agenda and to listen to her hubbub. We’d take in her exquisite contours, delighted by her cascading waterfalls and in awe of her ability to soften hard stone.

OJM 3Yet, on this particular day a winters chill had set in as the temperature
dropped to below freezing. I was intrigued by the dazzling formations taking shape. Nature has a lovely way of informing our lives, lifting us towards our better selves while bringing us closer to our Source; to a knowing that is beyond words. 

Water flows in harmony with all that is, ever was and ever will be, encouraging us to trust, for we too are connected with an expansive energy born of Love.

OJM 5

Liz Sorensen Wessel

 

Photos taken by Liz- Vermont Nov. 2017

You can click on the photos to get a closer look at Mother Nature's splendid designs. 

10 responses to “Days 335-336 Trusting”

  1. Terry Chapman Avatar
    Terry Chapman

    Like moving water, your post flows over me, this cold early winter morning in NE. “A knowing that is beyond words” has special meaning to me and most fly fishermen, who ply our local waters with rod and reel and high hopes every open season. We fish, but catching is a small portion of what we do. Fishing refreshes my soul!
    I take comfort in viscerally sensing, the core characteristics of water as it first flows from its source and is constantly moving; taking on different shapes and directions, yet always moving to its source: the vast vista of oceans, over all our planet, to which we, too, will sometime return.
    We will all be refreshed, recreated, and added to the eternal process of re-creation. Thank you God for Nature and thanks for water, the flow of our lives, and the unique opportunity to live, love, and flow!

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  2. Julie Avatar
    Julie

    Lovely photos! and as always, your thoughts and insights are also appreciated

    Like

  3. erie chapman Avatar
    erie chapman

    “Memories flowed upstream…” When I saw that image I knew this would be one of your most poetic pieces, LIz, both in words and in your sensitive photographs. Your eloquence continued throughout. thank you for making the effort to choose words well as in your phrase: “trees splaying dappled sunlight.” You are reaching deeper with your writing and perhaps thus feeling experiences in ever richer ways – as are we, your lucky readers.
    I accepted your invitation to click on each picture – in the first where Winter’s Hands sculpt the stream into sofas discarded on the sidewalk and, in the second, the same hands convert falling water into pebbled hards or freeze it mid-fall into shards whose edges we can feel.
    You did not just photograph what was there. You captured the eloquence of this otherwise desolate scene by your careful selection of angles & light.
    Thank you for lifting us back to your summer afternoon and helping us imagine it amid this stark landscape.

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  4. Anne Milligan Avatar
    Anne Milligan

    Liz, this is a beautiful piece, full of such rich imagery. Thank you for sharing this!!!

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  5. Jolyon Avatar
    Jolyon

    The chill was in the air. I have heard it said that an Angel’s breath was the light snow of the day. Her tears of joy the gentle rain. The reflection of a pond her meditation of Love.
    Your beautiful images show the magic of life.
    Time has given you reflections serene and turbulent. Like a waterfall in Vermont, the dew drops away with its brother and sisters, eventually softening the hardness over time. Where once the waters of time cascaded against each other, serenity prevails anew.
    With so many waterfalls in Vermont, one can imagine a choir of angels singing Alleluia to Mother Nature.
    And then there are the memories of Siddhartha…
    Thank you Liz.

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  6. ~liz Wessel Avatar

    Thank you for such a thoughtful as well as beautiful reflection, Terry. You have a way of enriching these meditations tenfold.

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  7. ~liz Wessel Avatar

    Thanks so much Julie for the gift of your presence here with us.

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  8. ~liz Wessel Avatar

    Thank you, Erie for taking the time to really be present to this reflection and to the images that accompanied this post and for sharing your impressions as well as images that came to your minds eye.
    I am so grateful for your receiving and giving in such a meaningful and vivid way.

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  9. ~liz Wessel Avatar

    Ah, thank you Anne and most especially for gracing us with your friendship.

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  10. ~liz Wessel Avatar

    These are such lovely images, Jolyon, especially this time of year. Truly overwhelmed by the beauty of each person’s personal reflections, which is a great gifting in return.
    Thank you!

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