Sun and Shade
Perhaps there is no starker example of immediate contrast
than sun and shade. By “immediate”, I
mean that they are so near to each other that you can literally step out of one
and into another. It’s like a trout
river where midstream the sun ignites the water’s surface with dancing
sparkles, but near the edge the river has undercut the bank so that the water
there is dark and mysterious. The
midstream rapids may catch the eye, but of you want to catch a trout you’d be
better off probing the dark, cooler water.
The truth is that we need both sun and shade. Sometimes the moment calls for song;
sometimes it calls for deep thought. Last
year about this same time we were reminded of that fact, and so we found
opportunities to relish them both.
We already had the plans and the reservations to enjoy three
days in nearby Door County, the narrow peninsula that divides Green Bay from
Lake Michigan. The weather forecast was
for the first two days to be in the 90’s; with just a little break on the third
day. And so, the first afternoon we
found shade and an onshore breeze that brought blessed relief from the
heat. At times like these, shade calms
the nerves and soothes the soul.
That onshore breeze was more persistent on the second day
and it kept the temperature very comfortable.
So much so that for the last hour of a lazy afternoon we actually moved
out of the shade and into the sunshine.
The warmth felt good.
Today we hiked one of our favorite areas on the
lakeside. The temperature dropped 12
degrees in the fifteen-minute car ride from the bayside of the Door.
The first half mile or so of that trail leads through a
predominantly hemlock and cedar woods.
The forest floor is constantly shaded. Only here and there for just a
few minutes of the sunniest of days does the light penetrate the canopy at
all; the moss and lichens grow thick. Here we also found a patch of yellow
lady slippers, shy and delicate woodland orchids that cannot tolerate direct
sunlight. What a blessing to happen upon
something so hidden, so beautiful, and so silent.
Further on, the trail opens up a bit as an occasional maple
or yellow birch shimmers in the breeze.
Then, almost inexplicably, the woods opened up into a small slice of
meadow which was awash in purple, magenta and white lupines. Their bright color shouted “Gloria”!
The truth is that we need both sun and shade, as each is
home to life experiences unique to that place.
Sometimes the moment calls for song; sometimes it calls for deep
thought. This week we were reminded of
that fact, and so we found opportunities to relish them both.
His Peace <><
Deacon Dan
Photo by Michael Held on Unsplash
Comments
Post a Comment