I’m amused that some, on referring to this Oregon trip, call it “vacation.”
Vacation from what? I ask, except the regular routine, the distractions, the pesky nuisances, to-do lists of the mind.
And I suppose, from all these things, it is a vacation. At least I hope to have vacated most of them.
But the mind is not vacant at all. Maybe I sit longer in the morning, reading, musing, climbing, spelunking, all four limbs engaged among the cranium’s cracks and crannies. Ever moving from one to another, getting almost stuck, then seeing another to explore. Sometimes it’s sheer, like Jerusalem’s wailing wall. I come across fragments of old prayers wedged in the cracks; I make new ones and wedge them in too.
I keep moving. Something else attracts, a distant idea. Will it mean a leap? Or do I take the safe route, longer, going back where I’ve been and coming at it another way?
But wait, there’s a rope. Can I trust it? Can I swing? Is it affixed to anything up there?
Do I go, or let go?
Is what I do now dependent on what I’ve done before? Or am I a continual blank slate?
If this is a vacation, is it from what?
And to what?
This is what we’re here to find out.
Meantime, fellow travelers, keep climbing, keep spelunking,
And don’t fret, even the pitfalls are only in the mind.
Our Lives Together
Its About Life
1:22 pm
GREAT!!!!
2:28 pm
For me, it’s more associations than anything, that I like deviating from, every once in a while. Not that these things are bad or all negative, but Alison and I like simply being detached from our everyday, a couple of times each year, to gain perspective. The end result is knowing we can enjoy each other regardless of setting, fresh vision as disciples of Jesus, and usually a sense of gratitude as we have time to reflect. Bottom line, it’s a good thing and all the best to you and Anne during your Oregon stay!
3:42 pm
Seems to me that “vacations” are a change of pace to create new nooks and crannies in the caverns of our minds and hearts.
Have a wonderful change of venue!
4:01 pm
I like this a lot. I’m getting ready to vacate my routine for a week and you’ve reminded me of one of the things I have to look forward to: Time to notice the spaces between my thoughts that almost always wind up leading me places I want to go.
4:02 pm
Sounds like this one will be a vacation, at least for Anne, from the distractions that were keeping her from finishing her pieces! May the Lord bless your time together. We loved the time we got to spend with you both :-)
4:55 pm
Though I do not hardly ever feel as though I need a vacation it seems that when I take one it is always just in time. The change of pace, routine, scenery and people always happen to be good. I will say that I think we do open our minds to other thought patterns and fresh ideas when we our out of our normal surroundings. Hope your vacation is really a nice one! May God richly bless you.
4:58 am
Beautiful. I especially love the bit about the Wailing Wall. What a great image!