View from the Coach Window

I have been reflecting on the many dynamics of sight, vision, seeing.  As I've been doing so, the fact that scene and seen are pronounced the same with slightly different, though connected, meanings has resonated with me.  Let me elaborate.

I took the picture of the scene above as we drove towards the Black Hills in South Dakota several weeks ago.  We had been observing the cloud ahead for some time and had took some snaps of it.  I took this, not for the cloud, but because I could finally see the Black Hills in the distance.  What struck me when I downloaded the picture were the layers of meaning that  began to emerge into a metaphor for journey, both external and internal.

As I looked at the scene, I was amazed at what I could see with both the physical and the spiritual eye.  I was amazed at the significance of the dark cloud overhead and the bright blue sky and hills ahead.  As I reflected on the view, the dark cloud seemed to offer a number of different interpretations.  On the surface, it expressed the fulfillment of our dream to travel around the country and to see many beautiful places on our life list.  We had had a bit of difficulty leaving Michigan due to a series of mechanical difficulties with our motor home and, for a bit, it seemed as if Michigan did not want to let us go.  Finally, most of those bumps in the road seemed to be behind us (the dark cloud), we were coming out from under them and the real adventure was beginning.  The hills and the sunshine seemed to say, "Smooth sailing from now on". 

Then, as I continued to contemplate the picture, I was reminded of the Exodus story from the Old Testement where Yahweh follows the Hebrew people  in the form of a hovering cloud. .  Aha - so the cloud was not our troubles but a reminder of God's perpetual presence with us - a reminder I needed because its something I sometimes (uh -often) forget temporarily when bumps in the road occur.  And, of course, the bumps were not over, because all our journeys are filled with a variety of ups and downs, sunlight and shadow, fun and challenge.  Indeed, as in the old adage, you can't have one without the other.  But, the spiritual eye was reminding me that God is there is in it all, supporting, guiding and helping call me back from the anxiety that comes when the unexpected occurs. Then I can view the scene with new eyes, find the positive reframe and the best solutions as well as enjoy the journey a whole lot more.

A few days later, my husband and I were wandering around downtown Rapid City and I saw a piece of art in a window:  four or five Lakota riding across the plains on their ponies, above them a magnificent cloud that looked like a giant bird, maybe an Eagle -  the Great Spirit hovering over them.  Pretty amazing, huh!

So let's keep looking and seeing the scenes around us with all aspects of our beings and see what we discover!