Shadow Kin - Missoula, Montana

"Hard is hard - there is no measuring stick - 
and sadness too often comes right in as
the shadow kin of joy."
-From The Forbidden Garden by Ellen Herrick, page 78

On Breathing Dust - Roadside in Missoula, Montana

"He knew he was in the presence of two Eldila.... "Look on him , beloved, and love him", said the first. 
"He is indeed but breathing dust and a careless touch would unmake him." "

-from Perelandra, by C. S. Lewis, transition into Ch 16

 Crouched at the edge of the road (&, yes, paying attention so as not to get run over!), I think, "How much more fragile are we, with all our complex internal systems grounded in original dust, than this tiny, intricate winged creature come to rest on the edge of a mud puddle?".

Twining Vines, Hands of Time, Missoula, Montana

Seeing these vines twining themselves amongst old machinery parked on our friends’ ranch put me in mind of our human fragility. We see ourselves as strong and capable, but then, suddenly, it seems, we hear complaints come out of our mouths - things our parents said when they seemed sooo old, for which we gave them pitying glances and said, “Here, let me do that for you.”
In truth, the hands of time pause for no one….so it’s good to realign our focus onto the things that really matter.

(For more relevantly provoking thoughts, click here for the 6/30/2012 River of Life podcast.)