Thursday, November 7, 2013

Ordinary Discovery

"The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes."  
Marcel Proust

I drive to work Monday through Friday and usually take the same route everyday.  I pass a small lake that is outlined by homes and a park. There is nothing extraordinary about this lake and I have never really paid much attention to it.  I have noticed when there was a hard rain and it would flow out of it's banks, or if geese had flown in, and where floating along the lake's surface or sunning themselves along it's banks.

As I drove to work today I was thinking if only I lived near the ocean, I could go to the beach. A picture a day would come easy, because I love the ocean.   The ocean speaks to me like nothing else can.  When I'm on a beach I sometimes close my eyes and imagine the voice of the ocean to be that of God's.   For when the waves are small, drifting in and gently out; He speaks softly to me and soothes my soul.  Sometimes the waves crash onto the beach and thunderously rush back to the ocean; just as His voice resonates within me and I am made aware of His majesty.  There is always beauty to be seen in the ocean, and heard.

This morning as I stopped at the intersection that faces the lake, I saw the lake, as if for the first time.  Although it's not the ocean, it has a tranquil beauty all it's own.  The reflection of the cloudy sky and color drenched trees on the lake seemed to beckon me;  and I realized I was seeing it as I had never seen it before.

I stopped tonight on my way home.  It was the first time I have ever pulled into the parking lot and gotten out of my car, just to take in and enjoy the beauty of this lake.  Camera in hand, I approached it's bank and heard a small lapping of the water from the breeze.   Funny how my new camera and a 365 day project has changed my perspective.  I'm seeing things through the lens of a camera and finding beauty I hadn't noticed before.  And the lapping of the water?  I think it was God's way of reminding me He speaks in the ordinary things of life.  I don't need an ocean for inspiration,  I need only to look around me, with new eyes.

 I couldn't decide which one of these I like the best.  The one above is "softer".  The one below I like except for the leaves that are too light.  Still using auto.  Maybe I should have shot a few more angles.

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