Beauty, Eye, Beholder:
It is said that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and I know some folks see beautiy in areas I do not understand, nor enjoy. I cannot speak for their thoughts, but I can speak for mine.
I grew up learning about mountains from family living in Kentucky. There was something about visiting them and wanting to do nothing but climb and explore. From those early years I knew that mountains would always be mystical and a pleasant place to be. Driving through East Texas last year we mistook some far off clouds for mountains. Sadness filled the car when we realized we were a long way away from those imaginary peaks.
I learned cold, true cold, from 16 years in Alaska, and have found that in moderation barefoot snow experiences are A-OK! I don’t need to explain it any further. Either you get it, or you don’t. It was 28 here last night as the sun disappeared…windows open, fan going, let’s cool this place down!
Combine the two, then living with mountain vistas, and plenty of cold weather, well, it’s a downright homey feeling!
We arrived in the Canadian Rockies, Canmore, Alberta, to be more exact, and as the sun disappeared there was the stark beauty of they sky and the peaks. This morning, I woke to the sun glistening through the trees and it made me think of a Bev Doolittle painting, and I wondered if the spotted Indian pony was somewhere hiding in plain site!
Today will be spent acclimating. Icy streets. Snowy woods. Where are the bugling elk? What’s the best place to enjoy the mountains and all their variety vistas?
Then I pause… Give thanks to God for all these blessings and think of the words of David.
“When I consider Your heavens,
the work of Your fingers,
The moon and the stars,
which You have ordained,
What is man that You are mindful of him,
And the son of man that You visit him?“
~Psalms 8:3-4