According to a New York Times headline yesterday, “Americans Warm to Trump’s Ideas, If Not to Trump.” The article begins: “Many Americans who otherwise dislike President-elect Donald J, Trump share his bleak assessment of the country’s problems.” I do not, and I will never warm to them or to the convicted felon.
While many Americans today will celebrate the inauguration, my spirit will be in farmland where its beauty and silence overcome the bitter cold and its light is the poetry of patience.
Before dawn last Friday, January 17, trekking poles in hand, I made my way through six inches of snow and ice to Goose Pond. In the 5+years that I have been photographing farmland sunrises, I’ve never done it in this much snow.
7:01 a.m., Goose Pond which I have never seen frozen in winter.
7:03 a.m., a small unfrozen spot on the pond; a larger one is far in the distance where hundreds of geese have gathered.
I ventured outside Goose Pond for a while, but at 7:20, sky hues began to transform dramatically.
I hurried back to the entrance of Goose Pond to check out the coming sunrise.
Goose Pond sunrise, 7:25 a.m.; geese in the distance.
Goose Pond, 7:28 a.m.
Goose Pond, 7:31 a.m.
7:35 a.m., I headed back to my car, a mile away. Oh, what a beautiful morning I’ve witnessed in my America!
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I have been awake since around 12:45 a.m. EST and finally got out of bed around 2:30 a.m. I am trying not to think about what this day portends for America. I want to drive to farmland right now, but thanks to a sleet storm yesterday afternoon followed by freezing temperatures, the roads are hazardous for driving, most likely also for walking.
I read somewhere that 68% of liberals and progressives are tuning out to politics and current events. What does THAT portend for America?
Warm to Trump’s Ideas? That idiotic headline makes me sick. Of course it’s very hard to face and respect a country/people who re-elected him. It’s a dark day in America the Beautiful. I struggle not to look away, the same way we do with a dying loved one.
I hear you, Neola. Thank you for being with me at this dark time outside of farmland. xoxo
I too am with you in the darkness of the moment. God is still here. “The sun also rises—” Eccles
How do we find God in the middle of this chaos?
Good question, Charlotte. I have the biggest lump in my stomach. I’m so anxious about this that I actually took a Klonopin which happens no more than twice a year. Trump just scares the shit out of me. He said, “Real power is fear, and that’s what I am bringing to the White House.”
Thank you for the beautiful sunrise photos. I will carry that light with me today. There is enough darkness in my little corner of the world that I will spend it first bearing witness to the House Judiciary work a bill to repeal gun free zones, then move on to a session with my personal trainer (because God knows we need to be strong at this time!) then I’ll go to our local MLK celebration. They usually march from the Depot to the Capitol, but it’s -11 now, so the rally may stay inside the depot. After all that, I’ll have a cup of tea and read poetry. Let’s keep holding each other up and moving forward toward the next right action. Blessings to all in this space.
Thank you, Beth, for tirelessly fighting the good fight.
“the poetry of patience”–thank you for this and for these majestic photos. Light in the darkness calling us to NOT join those who are “tuning out.” I’ve been reading Isaiah lately, and while I’m well aware that our country is not the Israel/Judah of so long ago, which was so deeply intertwined with Yahweh’s plans for the world, I am encouraged to see God’s utter disdain for injustice and careless disregard for others in any part of God’s good world. Isaiah also reminds me that God will, in God’s time, both punish those who turn their backs on justice, kindness, and humility, and grant God’s help, and ultimately God’s blessing, to those who don’t “tune out” but do what they can to keep the faith and promote justice, kindness, and walk ever humbly and open-eyed through the beauties of this troubled world.
Carol: I needed your comment. I am printing it up so I can easily reference it. Thank you.🙏❤️
I have been awake since around 12:45 a.m. EST and finally got out of bed around 2:30 a.m. I am trying not to think about what this day portends for America. I want to drive to farmland right now, but thanks to a sleet storm yesterday afternoon followed by freezing temperatures, the roads are hazardous for driving, most likely also for walking.
I read somewhere that 68% of liberals and progressives are tuning out to politics and current events. What does THAT portend for America?
Warm to Trump’s Ideas? That idiotic headline makes me sick. Of course it’s very hard to face and respect a country/people who re-elected him. It’s a dark day in America the Beautiful. I struggle not to look away, the same way we do with a dying loved one.
I hear you, Neola. Thank you for being with me at this dark time outside of farmland. xoxo
I too am with you in the darkness of the moment. God is still here. “The sun also rises—” Eccles
How do we find God in the middle of this chaos?
Good question, Charlotte. I have the biggest lump in my stomach. I’m so anxious about this that I actually took a Klonopin which happens no more than twice a year. Trump just scares the shit out of me. He said, “Real power is fear, and that’s what I am bringing to the White House.”
Thank you for the beautiful sunrise photos. I will carry that light with me today. There is enough darkness in my little corner of the world that I will spend it first bearing witness to the House Judiciary work a bill to repeal gun free zones, then move on to a session with my personal trainer (because God knows we need to be strong at this time!) then I’ll go to our local MLK celebration. They usually march from the Depot to the Capitol, but it’s -11 now, so the rally may stay inside the depot. After all that, I’ll have a cup of tea and read poetry. Let’s keep holding each other up and moving forward toward the next right action. Blessings to all in this space.
Thank you, Beth, for tirelessly fighting the good fight.
“the poetry of patience”–thank you for this and for these majestic photos. Light in the darkness calling us to NOT join those who are “tuning out.” I’ve been reading Isaiah lately, and while I’m well aware that our country is not the Israel/Judah of so long ago, which was so deeply intertwined with Yahweh’s plans for the world, I am encouraged to see God’s utter disdain for injustice and careless disregard for others in any part of God’s good world. Isaiah also reminds me that God will, in God’s time, both punish those who turn their backs on justice, kindness, and humility, and grant God’s help, and ultimately God’s blessing, to those who don’t “tune out” but do what they can to keep the faith and promote justice, kindness, and walk ever humbly and open-eyed through the beauties of this troubled world.
Carol: I needed your comment. I am printing it up so I can easily reference it. Thank you.🙏❤️
Magnificent. Thank you for the immersive beauty.
I love the adjective, “immersive.” Thank you.😘❤️