"Church" by the shore in Acadia National Park...Goodness, I have no idea how I am going to share photos from our time this week in Acadia National Park. I went through the 300 or so keeper photos thus far (and we still have two full days to go) and I pulled out like 60 photos...But I’ll start with this...
It is always amazing to me to see how plants of all kind cling to life in the most incredible places. And one of my cats really noticed the bird sounds in the beautiful video.
I noticed three horizontal sections of water. The top and most expansive had constant visible movement, but the second section was immovable because it was filled mostly with debris. The third section closest to the shoreline was gently "breathing" toward and away from shore. The middle section protected the shoreline from the constant movement of waves - a buffer zone. The shoreline would be constantly changing/washing away if it weren't for that buffer zone. That same thing happens at the mouth of the Mississippi in the Gulf of Mexico called the swamp and at the Texas shoreline where there are hundreds of miles of islands. Those are just two examples of how shorelines are protected by crappy looking stuff. The buffer isn't supposed to be pretty, it protects what is pretty. Paradoxically, this made me think about war and how brave people act as a buffer to protect the rest of us. Is war inevitable when chaos takes the place of civilization? Is physical illness inevitable when we don't take care of ourselves? Is it possible for human beings to arrive at a place where we don't need buffers? What would that look like?
Eternal kingdom? Isn't that an easy answer? I believe that the lion will lie down with the lamb at the finish line, but are there signs that we are inching toward that no matter how long it takes? The UN functions as a buffer zone, does it not? Under Biden and Democrats, doesn't the US function as such? We will always need Peacemakers, I think. So, yes, The Eternal Kingdom is the only possible answer to "What would that look like?" The irony of Israel trying to wipe away the Palestinians is a sign of what? That we are going backwards in our movement toward Eternal Peace? Its remarkable that the Middle East, the home of Jesus, is the home of such blind hatred. A two-state solution is the only acceptable end to it. Sigh.
Definitely an easy answer but I went to more of the LOOOONG term in reading your initial comment. Yes there are definitely people and orgs that are buffers - I also think of a lot of the NGOs out there such as when Amy and I were working with World Vision in South Africa. They were the primary people helping rural individuals in S.A. and not so much the government. They were amazing to see what they were doing.
Isn't that just like a 5? Moving out for the long view? Maybe taking pics of the sunrise is motivated by your fiveishness. I was identified as a "Global Thinker" when I was in college the first time. That's what makes me a Director. If I were the same person I am today in the late 20th C, I'd love to volunteer for those kinds of opportunities. However, I would never have had the money to pay for my plane fare around the world. It's wonderful that you've been able to see this kind of work firsthand.
Did you notice on the first picture how there is nearly a rainbow at the edge of the water on the right side of the picture?
I am not sure I am seeing it - can you be more specific where in the first photo?
It is always amazing to me to see how plants of all kind cling to life in the most incredible places. And one of my cats really noticed the bird sounds in the beautiful video.
I noticed three horizontal sections of water. The top and most expansive had constant visible movement, but the second section was immovable because it was filled mostly with debris. The third section closest to the shoreline was gently "breathing" toward and away from shore. The middle section protected the shoreline from the constant movement of waves - a buffer zone. The shoreline would be constantly changing/washing away if it weren't for that buffer zone. That same thing happens at the mouth of the Mississippi in the Gulf of Mexico called the swamp and at the Texas shoreline where there are hundreds of miles of islands. Those are just two examples of how shorelines are protected by crappy looking stuff. The buffer isn't supposed to be pretty, it protects what is pretty. Paradoxically, this made me think about war and how brave people act as a buffer to protect the rest of us. Is war inevitable when chaos takes the place of civilization? Is physical illness inevitable when we don't take care of ourselves? Is it possible for human beings to arrive at a place where we don't need buffers? What would that look like?
I love this Donna. It feels like the buffer-less world would be one far from where we are today. Eternal kingdom?
Eternal kingdom? Isn't that an easy answer? I believe that the lion will lie down with the lamb at the finish line, but are there signs that we are inching toward that no matter how long it takes? The UN functions as a buffer zone, does it not? Under Biden and Democrats, doesn't the US function as such? We will always need Peacemakers, I think. So, yes, The Eternal Kingdom is the only possible answer to "What would that look like?" The irony of Israel trying to wipe away the Palestinians is a sign of what? That we are going backwards in our movement toward Eternal Peace? Its remarkable that the Middle East, the home of Jesus, is the home of such blind hatred. A two-state solution is the only acceptable end to it. Sigh.
Definitely an easy answer but I went to more of the LOOOONG term in reading your initial comment. Yes there are definitely people and orgs that are buffers - I also think of a lot of the NGOs out there such as when Amy and I were working with World Vision in South Africa. They were the primary people helping rural individuals in S.A. and not so much the government. They were amazing to see what they were doing.
Isn't that just like a 5? Moving out for the long view? Maybe taking pics of the sunrise is motivated by your fiveishness. I was identified as a "Global Thinker" when I was in college the first time. That's what makes me a Director. If I were the same person I am today in the late 20th C, I'd love to volunteer for those kinds of opportunities. However, I would never have had the money to pay for my plane fare around the world. It's wonderful that you've been able to see this kind of work firsthand.
Love Acadia
Stunning captures….will go back to read your words.