The picture I took for this post is one of several that I took at the Crystal Geyser, near Green River, Utah. As I turned around to snap a few photos "Underdog" just seemed to jump out of the blue and onto my camera lens.
It's not because things are difficult that we dare not venture. It's because we dare not venture that they are difficult. - Lucius Annaeus Seneca
It is a fact that I am not proud of, but I am a bit of a coward. To admit that is to acknowledge my timidity in venturing forth to unknown regions both geographically and personally. I have lived in the same town for nearly 15 years now and have rarely gone beyond my comfort zone, my "safe" places. There are places I have heard about during the time I have lived here that I still haven't seen. I put off exploring these places while waiting for others to provide me with the opportunity, rather than seizing the chance to try on my own.
You may recall that earlier this summer, I issued a challenge to myself to make my todays worth remembering. I've tried to begin rising to that challenge. And, while I have a long way to go yet toward meeting it, I have sought to make strides. I can honestly say that in the past couple of months I have ventured to more places on my own than in the previous years combined.
One of those places that I recently ventured to on my own was the Crystal Geyser. (I've been there before, but never on my own...) While there I snapped several photos.
As I entered the mouth of the canyon on my return trip home this weekend, I paused to capture a few frames of the autumn colors on the mountainside. I made my way down a small incline and followed a rutted dirt road until I was near the railroad tracks. As I captured this shot of the bend in the track, it struck me how much life is like that.
We don't always know what is around the bend. We must simply take the chance that whatever we meet when we turn that corner will add dimension to our lives. Sometimes what lies around the bend tests our very mettle with struggles that are hard to comprehend. Other times we are met with unexpected happiness, new friendships, and opportunities.
We cannot predict what will happen if we continue on, but continue we must if we want to progress. If we remain rooted to the spot, fearing what is unknown we are left in the dust as life passes us by. What matters most is having the courage to follow life's path through it's twists and turns, it's straightaways and bends to our ultimate destination.
I'm finally learning this for myself and it is both scary and exhilarating. I can't wait to see what is around the next bend....
You might wonder what the title of this post has to do with the photos I selected for this week. The fact of the matter is that last spring my friend - the wonderful, smiling mother in these photos - was struggling to stay alive. You may have read of her trials via An Educator's Life. Through the marvels of modern medicine, countless prayers, and modern day miracles her life was spared to create more memories like the simple smiles captured in these snapshots. The pictures aren't fanciful or profound. What they are is an affirmation that miracles still happen and memories of the simple moments of joy in life are some of the greatest gifts of all.
It was a beautiful Tuesday morning. The news was broadcasting in the background as I finished getting ready for school. I walked into my living room and saw my first glimpse of what would be countless images that are ingrained in my memory.
I found myself riveted to the television as the events of the day started to unfold. I pulled myself away and made my way across the street to my classroom. At the time, I was teaching Kindergarten for half of the day and 6th grade for the other half. I wondered - how do you address a situation of this magnitude with elementary school kids. How do you try to help children understand something that is beyond understanding to even adult minds? As the day wore on and updates came in we learned of the extent of the terrorist acts in New York, Washington D.C., and Pennsylvania.
My Kindergartners knew "bad men" had hurt people, but that was the extent of their understanding. My 6th graders had a greater understanding of the events, but still had no idea the depth of the tragedy. I remembered looking up in the sky and seeing it eerily clear - no contrails, no light shining off of jets flying overhead. Over the next days and weeks images were shared with the world detailing the new reality that faced us. And yet what was striking to me, beyond the tragedy was the sense of unity that was apparent in those first days and weeks. It seemed that party lines were dropped and people treated each other as human beings worthy of compassion and consideration instead of rancor and dismissal.
Ten years have passed and in many ways things have returned to "normal." Sadly, normal in some ways means that we have forgotten the feelings that brought us together. Argument and divisiveness have replaced that short period of time when it seemed that differences could be addressed in a civil manner. I hope that it doesn't take another tragedy of this magnitude to remind us that though we may not always agree we are ultimately "one nation, under God, indivisible."
Tomorrow I will talk with my class about the events of 10 years ago. The father of one of my students has offered to share some of the photos he took of New York soon after 9-11. The Kindergarten teacher has also offered to share pictures she took about 10 months after 9-11.
I wonder in the future if my students will remember this as their Pearl Harbor, or JFK moment. Or will it be a small asterisk in a history book that is glossed over and quickly covered. I hope not. I hope that we learn from our history so that we do not repeat it.
After 9-11, I heard a song that summed up how I felt then, and how I still feel. I share it here.
As you know I work in a small school in our county and while it has many good points, our walls are a little bare and lifeless. They need something to add character, to express the uniqueness of our school and community - but what? And then, as I was looking at some photographs on a friend's site, an idea was born... We needed some pictures - but not just any old generic pictures. Pictures my students could connect and find common ground with - perhaps photos of our school, community, and the areas surrounding them. I spoke with another colleague and friend who liked the idea, so I presented it to my faculty. They seemed to be in support of the concept, so we decided to proceed.
Now, I have a friend who is a teacher - as many of my friends are - but he also just happens to be a fabulous photographer in his own right. I knew just who to ask. Fortunately, he was willing to take some time out of his busy schedule to be a part of this venture. He came down last weekend to visit with some friends and to take some photos. I think they turned out amazingly. I wanted to share some of my favorites with you. And, if you happen to need a few pictures for your own walls, he has some great ones on his site at Backroads Photography, and on his blog - here and here so check them out.
