The Eyes Have It!

The wonders of sight

Look carefully and all will be revealed

It has been icy cold and slippery underfoot in the UK recently. My daily walks in nature have taken on a different approach. I have had to walk extremely carefully on my outings in case of any fall (I once broke my arm in the ice, so now I am very fearful). But, this slower movement and more intense awareness of my surroundings has allowed me to marvel at the unparalleled beauty of the formations and patterns the ice and frost make, as they settle on anything they touch. One such walk I took was after sunset. The street lamps lit the way and, in doing so, turned the pavements, the grass verges and the fallen autumn leaves into a magical, sparkling wonderland. The ice crystals on the ground must have formed to be just big enough to capture the fullness of the sparkle, I don’t think I have ever been in such an amazing, glistening space.

Capture it, or it will be lost forever

I stood there for a considerable time, gazing in wonderment as the ground around me shone like the brightest diamonds. My instinct was to capture it, to look back on when the world warmed up and the memory of this magical night had started to fade. And I wanted to share it with others who adore nature and all that it has to gift to us. I’m not a professional photographer so my phone camera had to do its best job with an amateur operating it. I must have taken at least thirty shots, from all angles, and none of them could come close to capturing what my own eyes were seeing. At first, I was so frustrated. Why wasn’t it seeing and replicating what I saw? It felt as though it didn’t understand the importance of the scene in front of me.

Realistically, what I saw and what the phone camera was able to copy was never going to be in the same league. The human eye is so complex and such an amazing organ that can adjust to different environments, light levels and highlights the tiniest of detail. It is obvious that an electronic device wouldn’t be able to capture what I was seeing.

Gratitude

I am so grateful that I have the gift of sight. I can’t imagine what it would be like to not be able to stare at the wonders of nature. What is even more astounding is that some animals like the cat and the eagle have eyesight that is far more sophisticated than humans could ever imagine. The animal kingdom is truly miraculous!

I am currently reading The Book of Awakening by Mark Nepo, a wise book that offers us, on a daily basis, an opportunity to think about connection and the joy of being human. I glanced over to tomorrow’s wisdom, only to read this:

January 13th

Why we need each other

A blind child

guided by his mother,

admires the cherry blossom

KIKAKOU

He goes on to say that this parable teaches us that we need each other to be a “loving guide” for others and to highlight what others cannot “see”. We must also recognise that sometimes it is us that is “blind” and must listen to what others need to show us.

Take a moment

Standing amongst the frosty leaves I had to accept that for me to completely appreciate that moment I must rely on my own senses and be content that sometimes, that has to be enough. The photograph of the sparkling leaves does not show the spectacle off as I saw it. The moment will never be repeated. I have to be satisfied with that. It was beautiful, I will never forget what I saw and how it made me feel. As an aside, I also wondered if it was because of nature and how it glistens without man-made intervention, that I am drawn to all things sparkly….glitter and sequins I find particularly appealing. One to ponder.

Take care out there in the icy conditions. But when it is safe, I encourage you to stop for a moment and take a look around to discover the beauty that is before you. Soak it in and let it be forever in your mind’s eye. If you live in warmer climates, then I hope my descriptions of that dark winter’s evening transported you to witness the beauty I I experienced not so very long ago. Take care my friends.

Nepo, M (2020) The Book of Awakening - having the life you want by being present in the life you have Red Wheel, Canada.

I am curious:

What spectacle would you like to share with others who have not been able to witness it?