Hooray! I had to pull the blankets up this morning – the weather has shifted at last. The water’s surface, however, is still very warm from the long stretch of heat. As I paddled over the lake, I was alternately bathed in the cool air from the sky and the warm air off the water. I am flooded with the natural intoxication that is so often inherent in the world outdoors, when you allow yourself full immersion.
Even at well over 200 sunrise outings, I continue to be surprised. I paddled upwind with my back to the east for about 15 minutes today, then turned around and watched the eastern sky for the sun’s appearance. With the obstruction of hill and cloudbank, the sun may not be visible for 10-20 minutes after official rising, so I waited, drifting along.
After a long period of waiting for the sun to find its way around hill and cloudbank, I glanced behind me – and saw where the real show of the day was happening. The sun wasn’t high enough to reach me, but it was high enough to light up the western clouds with rosy highlights.
Lesson of the day: You may be patiently waiting for something to happen with intense focus, while you miss something unexpected and wonderful somewhere else. Be vigilant, but don’t forget to look around.
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I love this medium of water right outside my door. It enables chance encounters of a unique sort. An hour before the sun set last night I went for a swim along the shoreline and stopped to chat with a distant relative, also in the water to cool down in the evening. Then I continued on my way.
This morning, on my way home, I happened upon my brother-in-law with his fishing gear, getting ready to go out and catch breakfast. I paddled over to say hello across the rippled surface.
I have mentioned before that water is considered by many to be a spiritual realm. I feel it to be true. I feel it when I am in the water, when I am on the water, when I commune with people over water.
Lesson number two: When you feel a need to tap into greater depths, water may be your facilitator.
Had you been 450 miles east, wandering around your usual haunt, you would have experienced water in an entirely different way... Hurricane Earl offered a deluge through the night and into mid-morning. Not much wind, but impressive moisture.
ReplyDeleteFacilitator? Perhaps - - but of WHAT I'm not sure. Needless to say, neither the dogs nor I had any interest in wandering out back to get facilitated...!
:)
Haha, greater depths.
ReplyDelete