The Empty Nest

The baby you once held in your arms has grown up. She now stands among the other graduands on commencement day.

The years have quickly passed and in no time she will be walking down the aisle.

The emptiness begins to feel real.  In a matter of a few short years, the nest will be completely empty as each of the little ones move into adulthood.

Age

There are moments when we think of ourselves as the most important beings on this planet.

Then we see the majesty of the mountains and the wonder of Nature.

And we are reminded to be humble.



End of Chapter

The bags are packed, the cupboard emptied. The room is cleared and we take one last look before we closed the door.

It's been four years, a long time for some of us, too short for some others.

But we've come to college and we've graduated.

Today, we move on to another chapter.

To another phase of life.

To join the circle that our forebears have gone.

To join the circle that the next generation will follow.

Goodbye.

Hello.

Solitary

There are times in our lives when the silence is preferred over the company of friends. 

Humanity's Minute-ness

As we stand in the face of the wonders of the land,

we stand in appreciation of how small we stand in the greater realm of just this one Earth.

And when we wonder in awe of all Creation,

we are less than a grain of sand on the beaches of everything.

Wide Open Spaces

The wide open spaces shouldn't be just limited to the physical world nut the mental spaces in our minds.

Oh beautiful, for spacious skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties,
Above the fruited plain.

Wonder of God's Creation

Been away too long.


The frightening thought of how much work life eats into our day tires me.


A need to refocus came with a reminder in the morning sky today.


God has bigger plans than the daily grind at work.


Stop.  Look.  Listen.


To your heart, to your mind, to your soul.


Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
Colossians 3:2

Wonder of God's Creation

Been away too long.


The frightening thought of how much work life eats into our day tires me.


A need to refocus came with a reminder in the morning sky today.


God has bigger plans than the daily grind at work.


Stop.  Look.  Listen.


To your heart, to your mind, to your soul.


Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
Colossians 3:2

Old Friends Revisited

It's been a tough week and

emotionally draining too.

Life at the office has been challenging and

has sucked the energy out of me.

There is one therapy to remedy this and

that is to visit old friends and

release the endorphins that

had built the bonds of oneness.

We don't spend enough time and energy with our dear family and friends.

Little Flower

In the rain, a little flower stands strong,
refusing to bend or droop in the torrent that falls.


We are stronger than the little flower


What, then, is there that holds us from standing firm and strong in the face of adversity?

Stepped into a church the other day.




It was an interesting building with an interesting mix of architecture and colors.

Couldn't put my finger to a definitive style so I thought it best to just sit back and enjoy the quietness.

Burst of Yellow

It's just so interesting how colors play so much a part of our lives.

A blue flower would add calm and peace to my day.

A red flower would put a different emotion as a white flower.

The yellow flower would add zest and energy to my day.

Choices

In life, we are often faced with choices. One that will benefit us, one that will grief us.

We know not when which of these would be the correct decision.



Nonetheless, we make the choice.

No matter work the outcome is, we still have to choose.

Lightly I tread

Lightly and gently, I reach into the sky.

Each petal, each soft white petal like little fingers stretching to the stars.

Someday, we will be reunited - my spirit with the stars.

Death

In passing,

we mourn our loss.

One an older woman, a great-grandmother

a ripe old age of 99

passed on quietly in the night

The other a younger woman,

not that much younger

struck by the cancer curse

both

mourned by some who felt the pain of the loss

while others felt the relief that she is gone,

that her pain and suffering are no more

relieved that they can move on.

and in the morrow after the last tear has been shed

after the last flame at the crematorium

had been extinguished,

we all move on

on to the daily grind that we must face

until our own journey's end

until our turn to cross the river

Goodbye Carol.  Goodbye Mary.

Similar but not the same.

Admitted but not accepted.

In the midst of the silence of

a church, or temple, or mosque,

there lies a certain tranquility

that can be found

in the stillness

of one's heart and mind.

Morning in the Tropics

Good to get out in the morning in the tropics and catch a little sunshine and warmth before the day gets too hot and humid.

Just about the time to catch the sun rising and the birds come through the morning air with their song.

This is probably one of the two best times in the tropics.  That one moment when Nature awakes.




The other best time comes as the sun sets - that brief moment before the world plunges into darkness and the jungle comes alive with new sounds and noises that trembles the human souls.




But for now, savor the morning freshness as the earth dries itself of the dew that comes from the night's cool air.

Arise!

Lent is coming to a close soon.

A reminder that out of the ashes, glory arises.

Out of the mud and scum of the pond, rises the water lily in its splendor and beauty.

Moon

A couple of months back, I took a shot of the moon from my window. Don't get to go out much these days. It's been a long and tiring time since Christmas.


But by not going out enough and not moving on, one stagnates into a wallow of questions that cannot have simple answers.


Instead, one should step out into the world and see everything with fresh eyes.


How many countless pairs of eyes have seen the moon over the millennia. But tonight, the moon is mine and it calls to me.


When will we, as a race, live on the moon? I hope by then, we learn how to take care of the gifts given to us.

Away for too long

I have not been active in the past months. Truth be told, I have not been well.  I tire easily these days and going out with the camera has become a very draining experience.


But like the phoenix, I need to rise out of my ashes and keep going. Even if there is one ounce of motivation and inspiration out there, it must be enough to keep me going.

Caught this sunset last weekend. Not much of a sunset since I missed that moment when the sun slipped away past the horizon. But that's life isn't it, we often miss that moment when good things (or bad things) slip by us.


Instead, we focus on whatever beauty we can find, whatever we can savor and move on.


To another sunrise, to another rainbow, to another sunset. We just keep moving.

Most cats sit with
their paws crossed; not this one!

Such regality, such aloofness.


Cats - not a great fan of them.


But I must admit that out of their nonchalant attitude and their "devil-may-care" personality, cats are interesting creatures.




Each with its own pattern on the fur, each with its own "as if I care" look.


Not much different from most humans I know.