Renewal during life’s journey
A sunlit, autumn view on national park land in Woodstock, Vermont. (Gareth Henderson Photo)
Each life is unique, and each view of the outside world marks its own path through its unique perspective. Along life’s journey, one of the greatest joys is the role that nature plays. If it isn’t changing our thought, it at least refreshes our thinking, and perhaps makes us take a healthy step back from the rumblings of daily routines.
A recent walk along a beautiful, foliage-filled path in the woods was such an experience. My wife and I had started out in Woodstock Village, but instead of heading through downtown, we went up past the River Street cemetery and enjoyed a trail that’s part of the national park system. Fallen leaves were everywhere, leaving us with a feeling of being nestled in nature; the sun completed the picture by painting the trees with its rays, illuminating a patchwork of oranges, yellows and greens. The soft, precious glow of late-afternoon sunlight was all around and profoundly inspiring. It reminded me of foliage walks with my family as a child, when I saw that same glow lighting on tree branches. Some leaves would capture more light than others, accentuating the scene’s innate beauty by this natural contrast.
It made me wonder at how often this incredible display of nature had inspired others, and at how many people had walked this same path, to look at this new-old, dazzling scene with fresh eyes. A few uphills and downhills took us gradually closer to the trail leading back to Faulkner Park in the village, and all the while autumn’s splendor was a constant presence. Each new turn, each new scene, offered a fresh perspective on a beautiful season we return to every year. Many scenes in life can feel repetitive, every day provides an opportunity to take a new path, think new thoughts, or at least throw a new element into an old routine.
Our life experience isn’t made to be tired, or cloaked in same-ness; it’s made to be refreshed. Those moments of renewal, of profound learning and insight, shine that steadfast light of goodness and progress onto life’s journey. In that light there’s a sense of openness, which sometimes unveils paths we never considered, but may be right for a particular moment. Like sunlight, goodness is familiar, and it always has a calming effect. Its gentle glow is never far from anyone, and we all share a natural connection with the good that sustains life, welcomes progress and instills peace.
— Gareth Henderson
