Autumn Glow — The Story
How great is thy beauty O Lord
How lovingly displayed in the forest
Leaves dressing trees in colors of Fall
Glorious to behold
A wonder of creation
Beauty calming our soul
Highlighted — The Story
The trail was so thick with leaves, the sun was blocked out in many places. Suddenly a streak of sunlight broke through, highlighting a portion of the Maple leaves, contrasted with that deep tourquoise New Mexico blue sky.
Intense Reds— The Story
Rounding a corner on the trail, just when I thought I’d seen all the gorgeous reds there were to see, this really intense grouping met my gaze! Nature is something!
Leaves Ready for Playing! — The Story
I kept making return trips to the Maple area, just to see how red those lovely trees were going to get! But then the leaves started falling and created this lovely long pile ready for playing!
Pool on Three Rivers
Pool on Three Rivers, in Shadow
Connections — The Story
The summer monsoon season presents so many opportunities for interesting photographs, you need to be on the look out all the time. On this occasion I was walking the Grand View Trail, looking west across the Basin. A storm was moving into that area and a couple of water spouts were clearly visible. They even looked like connections, from the Earth to the Heavens.
Fall Color in the Sacramento Mountains
Watch breezes blow gently thru golden aspen leaves.
See them quaking.
Hear the gentle soothing sound.
See the leaves flutter then fall to the ground,
They cover the waiting earth with gold.
Fall is come.
Oh the beauty, Oh the peace, Oh the joy.
Fall Colors Along Sunspot Road — The Story
The seasons are changing, and reliably, so are the graceful Aspens. They quake in the breeze like always, but now their leaf color ranges from shades of golden yellows to fiery oranges. Watching the weather reports for drops in overnight temperatures, you can make a good plan for a colorful drive along this road. The Chamber of Commerce and the Forest Service join forces to advertise and encourage families to come out and see nature’s show. A nice treat to living so close to the mountains.
Fall Color at Karr Canyon — The Story
That long anticipated show of fall color is especially easy to see at the Karr Canyon Recreational Area. It can change quickly so its best to have a plan in mind. Weather starts to get more harsh this time of year and those glorious displays of yellows and oranges can be blown away before you know it.
Another View of Karr Canyon — The Story
As you walk and hike deeper into Karr Canyon, you begin to notice more colorful patches of Aspen. Well worth a visit each fall.
Osborne Fire Finder — The Story
Keeping the Forests safe from wildfires takes dedicated volunteers! These same folks regularly take time out to lead hikes in the Lincoln National Forest to help the public understand what goes on behind the scenes. On this particular day, we were allowed to climb up into the Forest Lookout Tower and see what a Osborne Fire Finder looked like and how it was used. It was a beautiful view, full of peace and solitude, and luckily no fires that day!
Looking Inside
James Ridge Fire Lookout— The Story
Here is the tower view from the ground looking up! You can see the dark clouds moving into the area. We decided it was time to leave the vulnerable room at the top. Each fire lookout set up includes a lightning protected wooden chair, but only one per station. Not enough to accommodate all us hikers!
James Ridge Fire Lookout, Another View
Ancient Sign near James Ridge
Sacramento Mountain Rainbow — The Story
Driving home along highway 54, I was watching a rain storm move along the edge of the Sacramento’s. As I drove south, the angle of the setting sun brought out a lovely rainbow. Nature’s treat.
Canyon Storm—The Story
One of my favorite landscape views is of distant mountains, with multiple ranges, some close, others farther away, all varying shades of color and contrast. On this occasion I was hiking the Three Rivers Petroglyph’s trail just as a powerful storm was in progress over the nearby Sacramento Mountains. A volunteer at the visitor center assured me that the storm would most likely stay in the Sacramento’s and not interfere with a hike, so off I went to enjoy the trail and take some photographs. I felt very lucky!
Icy Drip —The Story
I was with a group of friends. We regularly hike together and enjoy chances to explore new places together. This cold winter day found us on the Dry Canyon Trail off highway 82 near a natural spring. The spring was overflowing. The excess water was freezing on all nearby objects, winter grass, rocks, and old wood. As the sun broke through the clouds the light beams made some interesting patterns on the dripping water and spray. Camera in hand, I walked around the spring to capture the right moment, the right angle, the right light. I try to always hike with my camera. You never know what wonders you may find!
Waterfall on a Mountain Creek — The Story
I was hiking with my buddies along the Argentina Canyon Trail in the White Mountain Wilderness. The trail followed a creek that was running pretty full due to winter rains. The trail had us making several creek crossings which are always fun and unpredictable. At this particular spot, the creek was making a little waterfall. The sun had broken through the heavy canopy of trees and was making its golden mark on the diamond like bubbles of swirling water.
Snowy Sacramentos, One— The Story
The city’s desert park, right at the foot of the Sacramento Mountains, occasionally receives a light snow. This storm had been much heavier and longer. As soon as it stopped I took up the camera and started exploring. This view was quite a contrast, light dusting of snow on the mountains them selves, heavy, wet thick accumulation on the dessert plants. Major clouds still hanging over the mountains indicating the storm was not over yet!
Snowy Sacramentos, Two
Pastel Snowrise —The Story
Turning to look, as the lesson books for photographers advise, I caught this view of the snow storm clouds beginning to lift above the Basin, revealing the San Andres Mountains to the West. They had been coated with snow also. And the interplay of the light blue sky that was peaking through, looked beautiful against the pinkish storm clouds.
Fall Color Along OSHA Trail — The Story
The change of seasons in the Sacramento’s is also a lovely time to search for those brilliant pockets of red maples. There are several of them along the popular OSHA Trail. Here was one tree, surrounded by a golden floor of golden yellow leaves.
Aspen Star — The Story
Small patches of Aspen along the OSHA Trail, glowing in the afternoon sun.
Showy Red Leaves of Fall — The Story
Could it be? This close up of the bright red maple leaves seems even more dramatic.
Orangy Reds, Tourquoise Blue — The Story
And with this shot, we are once again reminded of just how special our brilliant tourquoise blue New Mexico skies are. We have so much to enjoy in nature.
Fall Color Standout — The Story
Another view of a red maple in one of those patches. This time the tree seemed to be ringed by different shades. One side red, another yellow-green, another yellow-brown. Nature can amaze us.
Snow on Salado Creek — The Story
We had had a late season snow, just a few inches. The moisture was welcome. The temperature was warming up and the snow was melting quickly. I was anxious to get outdoors and enjoy the views. I decided to take a trail that led me to a bridge over a creek. There wasn’t really much water in the creek but there was quite a layer of snow. I crossed the bridge, then got close to the creek. I saw a lovely pattern of light and shadows, soft mounds of snow, shoots of grass poking through. A mix of winter and spring.
White Mountains Trail
Cloud Leaves Its Mark
Gracefully Waving
One Was Blooming
Unexpected
Here we were, a group of hikers, learning about Forest Succession along the Rim Trail in the Lincoln National Forest. Not really looking for wildflowers. And then I noticed it. An orchid! In the Sacramento Mountains. In a place I have hiked many times. But this was the very first time I had seen an orchid along the Rim Trail. Back at home, I got out my flower books and started my search. What was this orchid? My best guess is, a Green Bog Orchid, platanthera huronensis. You never know what you might find on a hike in the great outdoors!
Entering Dog Canyon
Deep In Dog Canyon
Wind sound, peace is here
It is a casual walk along the Rim Trail
The tree leaves are turning color
Beautiful, rich reds, deep oranges, bright yellows
God’s paint brush at work
Autumn is here
Ps 96:12 let the field exult, and everything in it.
Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy NRSV
There is a gentle breeze
Tree limbs sway
Leaves flutter
From the movement comes a sound
John 3:8 The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” NRSV
Matthew 11:7 As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to look at? A reed shaken by the wind? NRSV
Acts 2:2 And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting NRSV
The sound reminds me of ocean waves, lapping along the sand
What seems to be a random pattern, yet it happens again, and again
A repeating sound that is strangely soothing, and comforting
Breathe it in
Deep breaths, hold for a moment
My being calms
This breath is life giving, this breath is healing
This breath is God’s love for all creation
We can’t see the breeze, but it’s there
Tree branches gently sway, showing us that there’s a breeze
Leaves flutter around. Sometimes the leaves are caught on a breeze that seems to carry them away.
Psalm 103:16 for the wind passes over it, and it is gone, and its place knows it no more NRSV
Ephesians 4:14 We must no longer be children, tossed to and fro and blown about by every wind of doctrine, by people’s trickery, by their craftiness in deceitful scheming. NRSV
James 1:6 But ask in faith, never doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind; NRSV
God is present in this moment
Let the breath go,
Let the outgoing breath take with it all the knots of worry
Now, breathe in again, a nice, full, deep breath
Hold it gently
It is gentle on the soul
Healing us
Love from God
Wind sound, peace is here
What began as a routine hike to look at the beautiful fall colors of the Maple trees, turned into a communion with the natural world, a communion with God’s creation. The experience included sound as well as color. The sound was unexpected. I had gone there thinking only of the autumn colors I might see. Yet the effect of the sound was to draw my attention more fully to the reverence of the place. If it had been the colors of the forest only, without wind sounds, I might have failed to honor the moments as gifts from God. The sound was just enough of an impact to do that. If it had been any louder, I might have been looking for shelter. But the intensity was just right. Notice me, it said, what do I remind you of, what are you thinking now? Take an extra moment, the wind seemed to say, slow down, think, pray, rejoice, be grateful. Walking in the forest will never be quite the same.
1 Kings 19:11 11 He said, “Go out and stand on the mountain before the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.” Now there was a great wind, so strong that it was splitting mountains and breaking rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; 12 and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of sheer silence. 13 When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. Then there came a voice to him that said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” NRSV
It feels as if this reflection has more to reveal, more to teach.
I went on another hike, to a place where spiritual connections have been made for me in the past, with the hope that answers would come. Especially to the question, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
Where is the “here” in that question? What is God asking of me? What does God want of me? What am I missing in this message?
I drove to Santo Nino Stations of the Cross Trail. The gravel road, really an arroyo, was almost impassable due to heavy rain and flooding a few months back. But I felt confident I could get through. I was grateful to be driving a high clearance vehicle with four-wheel drive.
I parked my car, got my backpack and camera, and started the climb. The trail was quite overgrown. I was thankful I had some memory of it.
I was sad to see that someone had torn down one of the stations. They had to have worked hard to do so. Each station is like an altar, made of river rocks set in mortar with rebar, black cast iron, and a painted wooden cross, forming an image of each station’s story. There were only small bits and pieces left of this destroyed station. With a station gone, it was a bit harder to find my way. The stations serve also as trail markers, guiding people on the way.
Finally, I was at the top, sitting next to the huge white cross and looking across the basin at the snow-capped Sierra Blanca. Past prayerful moments and meditations came to mind. I thought about their beauty and meaning. Then unexpectedly, I became aware of wind sound. This time the sound was different.
There are heavy steel cables that tie down and secure the huge white cross. Since it is at the top of the hill, it is vulnerable to windstorms. The wind blowing through those heavy cables was making a musical sound. Almost like a harpist strumming the cords of the harp or a guitar player plucking the strings of the guitar. As the wind increased the sound did too. I was taken back to the impact of the wind sound in the leaves from the first part of this reflection. Could there be a connection? Was it another message to stop, take notice, look around, observe?
So, I sat down and started noticing things. The area was covered with dried out native grass. This variety had a seed pod on the top of each blade that remined me of a fishing hook. It was attractive in its dried form. That is true for many plants. They have beauty and style in each of the seasons if we pay attention. As I gazed at their changing form, I thought, they are getting ready to shut down for the winter, to store up food for the next growing season. Grasses frequently spread seeds so their species can propagate and thrive. I also noticed that the rocks all around were jet black, perhaps from an ancient lava flow. There was an altar at this station too. People had added their names on rocks and attached them to the altar with mortar. There were hand made crosses, painted rocks, and articles of clothing. Probably sacred objects to the people who brought them. I thought of them as signs of the importance of this place to the people who made a pilgrimage to get here. And here I was too. I didn’t bring anything to leave. Being present at this place, praying, observing God’s creation, those things were my expressions of the sacredness of this place.
Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it. Genesis 28:16 NRSV
Bless us Lord, this day with vision. May this place be a sacred place, a telling place, where heaven and earth meet. Celtic Daily Prayer Book
…He makes his angels winds,.. Hebrews 1:7 NRSV
Every day is a gift from God. Every day is precious. Every day is fragile. What I do with each day is important. I need to pray, to be thoughtful, to be open to the Holy Spirit.
The sound of the wind may be the Holy Spirit communicating with me. The wind sound may be a rap on the window of my soul. A light tap saying, open up, listen and hear, look and see, and you will know. If I will take notice, pause, reflect, listen, and observe my surroundings, answers will come. I am grateful for this message, this reminder that there is much to learn all around, very close. I have only to look.