Over here, under this rainbow...

I know. It's all wrong. By rights we shouldn't be here. But we are.

It's like the great stories, Mr. Frodo, the ones that really mattered. Full of darkness and danger they were, and sometimes you didn't want to know the end because how could the end be happy? How could the world go back to the way it was when so much bad has happened? But in the end, it's only a passing thing this shadow, even darkness must pass. A new day will come, and when the sun shines, it'll shine out the clearer. I know now folks in those stories had lots of chances of turning back, only they didn't. They kept going because they were holding on to something. That there's some good in this world, Mr. Frodo, and it's worth fighting for.

-Samwise Gamgee

On my walks this past week or so I encountered some interesting images that I naturally tried as best I could to capture. I suppose that today's post will mostly just be a narrative of what I saw, and the thoughts that went with my distracted conscience.

I was mostly finished walking through the neighborhood when I looked up. There was nothing that urged me to look in that direction, and the odd thing is while walking I generally keep my eyes focused straight ahead and look down to make sure I am not about to trip on something. The fact that I even looked up surprised me, and then to see an upside down and complete rainbow really floored me. I have never seen in my recollection, a rainbow from end to end--nor have I seen one upside down in the sky.

It was a reminder to stay observant--because you never know what you may come across on your journey through life. It was what reminded me of Samwise Gamgee's movie quote from The Two Towers. The text from Tolkien's writing is similar; however there is enough difference for me to acknowledge and include below:

“Yes, that’s so," said Sam.

"And we shouldn’t be here at all, if we’d known more about it before we started. But I suppose it’s often that way. The brave things in the old tales and songs, Mr. Frodo: adventures, as I used to call them. I used to think that they were things the wonderful folk of the stories went out and looked for, because they wanted them, because they were exciting and life was a bit dull, a kind of a sport, as you might say. But that’s not the way of it with the tales that really mattered, or the ones that stay in the mind. Folk seem to have been just landed in them, usually – their paths were laid that way, as you put it. But I expect they had lots of chances, like us, of turning back, only they didn’t. And if they had, we shouldn’t know, because they’d have been forgotten. We hear about those as just went on – and not all to a good end, mind you; at least not to what folk inside a story and not outside it call a good end. You know, coming home, and finding things all right, though not quite the same – like old Mr Bilbo. But those aren’t always the best tales to hear, though they may be the best tales to get landed in! I wonder what sort of a tale we’ve fallen into?"

"I wonder," said Frodo.

"But I don’t know. And that’s the way of a real tale. Take any one that you’re fond of. You may know, or guess, what kind of a tale it is, happy-ending or sad-ending, but the people in it don’t know. And you don’t want them to."

-JRR Tolkien

It is aptly observed and written; we are each in our own tale. We have no idea how it is going to turn out, and only the really good stories make it into some sort of permanent remembrance for the world. I would like to be more active in understanding and living through my tale. I want to take the time to embrace and observe and record--even the seemingly insignificant things--they take on meaning and engage my mind in a myriad of thoughts.

I was walking today (no surprise there) and was questioning life’s purpose. Why is it I ponder these great mysteries of life when I’m alone in the woods?

I saw this (hat) hanging on a branch and I smiled. Someone must have dropped it, and a passerby picked it up and hung it on a branch so it would be noticed and possibly recovered.

That—is some of the good in the world. The good that looks for the best, takes a moment to pick up a lost item on their path and put it in a more conspicuous spot. The good that returns too much change that was given, or helps out a friend in need with no expectation in return.

I want to spend more time—reflecting upon the good things, the things that happen upon me while on the path of my life.

With all that’s happening in the news and in our lives, it’s so easy to get caught up in it and let it wear us down. To build up tension, stress, anxiety—these things are a result of too much worry. Focusing on the negative and the awful “what if’s” (as opposed to positive “what if’s”) can take its toll on us emotionally, physically, mentally, and spiritually.

On a different day, I was walking and was struck by the leaves that had not yet succumbed to the windy and cold weather and fallen to the ground like most of the other leaves. I thought to myself, we are like the leaves in winter that stubbornly cling to the branches and refuse to let go! We are bone dry, brittle, all the life has drained out of us, but there we are—holding on for dear life!

I was discussing my thoughts regarding this with a friend and he corrected me. He said, "You are not the leaf--you are the tree." After pondering this for awhile, I have decided to agree with him (yes, you were right!) that we are indeed, the tree. We are the tree that goes through different seasons of life--and sometimes we are dry and unproductive and hanging on to the brittle leaves instead of letting them go--even though we know things will look up and the sun will shine and the rain will fall and soon fresh leaves will bud from our branches.

It reminded me not to lose heart. And I tell you, God is always with us--reminding us of His greatness. The things I see, that capture my heart--are like little post-it notes from God. I have this picture from a hike earlier this week--and at the time I was admiring the way the setting sun was casting a stunning glow on the trees and appreciating the shadows and the display of dark and light together when I noticed the shadow of a cross on a tree trunk. A little post-it from God. These little messages tickle me and I love to catch them!

Samwise Gamgee could not have said it better when he was describing the paths of the adventurers, and how they probably weren't seeking a tale--it just kind of found them and they stuck it out and endured. Sometimes I feel like that. I feel as though my tale has had many twists and turns and ups and downs to the point that it sounds so crazy no one could make it up! I have been called resilient by two doctors in the past two weeks, and I owe it to the tale that is my life. The fact that I continue on--and am still learning and still desire to be loving and kind and helpful--are a testament to God's grace in my life.

Is it just me, or does this tree have eyes??? This special tree lives in my neighborhood and watches me walk or jog (whichever I have more energy for) several times a week; however I only just recently noticed it staring at me. It is a little unnerving and yet inspiring!

I honestly thought that my tree photographing days were coming to an end--what could I possibly discover covering the same 15-20 miles of trails each week?

And yet, each season brings new views and more insights...

I am learning to keep my eyes open, and to be as positive and kind as possible. We only have one life and 41 years have already passed me by. I want to be more present for the remaining years I have, and I want to appreciate all the good that is still in this world.

I want to take the chances! Continue on the adventure! I am not going to turn around and run away, but instead face my path and embrace the grand tale of my life.

When I see glorious views such as these I cannot help but feel that I am surrounded by something so sacred and wondrous, and I am thankful.

Thank you for sharing in my tale with me! I hope you are able to set aside some time to observe the path you are on.