The hidden and the letting go

Creekside this morning

It is a magnificent fall day here in the Bogs.  The sky is clear, the sun is bright, and the air is scented with wisps of woodsmoke and the crispness of drying leaves.  We had frost and fog early this morning, but it warmed up quickly.

Creek hidden behind the trees now exposed to view

I walked down to the creek today.  There was something odd about the morning.  I couldn’t place it at first.  Then I realized it was the absence of noise.  The last time I went for a walk on my own (in other words, before the latest trip and without a dog accompanying me), there were still enough flowers blooming to attract bees.  The meadows were a-buzz with sound.  The crickets and cicadas were still singing their songs.  This morning there wasn’t a peep, a chirp, a hum, or a buzz out there.  Even the birds were silent for a while.

Sugar maple ablaze with color

This week’s photo challenge from The Daily Post is Hidden.  I thought about that while I was walking through the woods this morning.  I might have to go back and rethink it as there are other ways I could approach this subject.  This morning my thoughts veered towards how the bones of the trees are hidden by their leaves until autumn and the fall of the leaves allows us to see the basic shapes, curves, and skeletons of the trees.  This is the time of year in which I wish I could draw.  I would spend days like today sketching the trunks and branches of the exposed trees.

Skeletons of the trees appearing at the back of the pond.

To live in this world, you must be able to do three things:  to love what is mortal; to hold it against your bones knowing your own life depends on it; and, when the time comes to let it go, to let it go.

~ Mary Oliver

The bones hidden behind the foliage

In the woods, even the sky is hidden when the leaves are thick.  Now that many of the leaves have let go and fallen back to earth, I can see the blue sky overhead and enjoy the warmth of sun as it lights up what was previously hidden in the shadows.

Blue sky day

I started out having one of those “the hurrier I go, the behinder I get” days.  From the moment I stepped out of bed I felt like I was running late.  I couldn’t figure out why I felt that way until I was ten minutes into a cardio workout.  The blood flow to my brain must have improved, allowing me to remember that I had an appointment in twenty minutes.  I was supposed to drive M to work so I could have the car to go to said appointment.  Doh!  Luckily for me, I was able to get the car in time to arrive at my appointment ten minutes late.

Berries hidden in the goldenrod.

I don’t like to be late.  It’s one of those quirky things about me.  I like to be on time.  I’m sure it’s about control.  Being on time is something I can control.  It’s polite, too.

Still clinging

The daily readings that follow are an invitation to get into the canoe of your practice and flow down the river of yoga.  You may go deep, into unchartered waters; you will surely encounter challenges and delights along the way.  But first you must get into that canoe and let go.  In class I say, Let your practice be a refuge from the need to control.  And I suggest the same to you:  get out of the driver’s seat for a while and enjoy the scenery.  Let the river of yoga take you where it will.

~ Rolf Gates and Katrina Kenison, Meditations from the Mat

Single

I read the above quote this morning after I returned from my appointment, after I spent an hour or so running around trying to get caught up only to feel like I was moving further behind.

Red released

I read it and thought, “OK.”

Yellow liberated

I gave up rushing around.  I went out for my walk, admiring all the leaves that have let go.  I watched as some of them floated to the ground.  I took my time.  We are not going to have too many more days like today this season.  It would be ungrateful of me not to enjoy the gift of this beautiful day.

Will let go and show us the hidden tree when it's time

Maybe I’ll get caught up tomorrow.  And maybe I won’t.  Maybe I’ll just start from where I am.  That’s always a good place to begin.

Bright blue sky hidden behind the leaves

That’s about it from the Bogs for today.  Thank you for dropping by and joining me as I slow down and enjoy the scenery.

P.S.  Today is Day One of NaBloPoMo.  If you’d like to join in, click on one of the links (<—the one over there or the one in the sidebar—>) to find out how.

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