The Tide

I had the world at my fingers, and it slipped away… I watched it shatter at my feet broken and distorted. I was lost, not sure what to do, everything lay at my feet… all that I worked for, all that was to be, lost in one moment.

Then, something happened. I am not sure when, but I was handed another reality… one that I have trouble comprehending, one where everything is the opposite than it once was. Before I did not have control, I had no say in everything that once transpired… that has changed… now I am rebuilding something, I see a light. Just one problem….

Is it what I really want?

I think so.

Yes, I do.

(This was a rainbow that appeared over Flowood, Mississippi on 12-July-2009 at the Dogwood shopping center. It was unique in that it was not raining that day, just a few clouds, and yet the rainbow was the brightest I have seen in a long while.)

Perseverance

Dark clouds tend to gather at times when they are not needed, and they threaten to ruin every chance for sun possible. But the sun is triumphant, returning even after the darkest days, providing light and warmth… just when you thought you would never see it again.

We often forget that things will soon be better, especially in our darkest moments when we are blinded by self-pity. When the clouds do part and we do finally receive warmth and light, we often do not know how we allowed ourselves sink so deep into the darkness of despair. I am personally very guilty of this very thing, and in my darkest moments, it is very hard to remind yourself that it will get better… and perseverance does not always seem like an option. However even the largest deserts have an end, and the gifts of the journey make it worth it in the long run.

(Photo: Crossgates Lake in Brandon, Mississippi.)

Dreams

Dreams start out as small streams flowing through our lives, and as we go forward… they grow. Soon our dreams are so big, that they overflow their original banks and spill over into every aspect of our lives.

Suddenly we are faced with a question, what do we do with this?

The answer is simple, and often over looked. Jump in feet first, and let it surround you... you never really know what is possible.

(About the photo: The Mississippi River in Vicksburg, Mississippi at Sunset.)

Lost

Often we forget about things that once meant something to us, and we leave it where time can ravage it and take it for its own. It is not done for any reason; it just happens… we tend to cast things aside until we realize that it’s still there. The problem with this, is the fact that when we usually realize what we had, it is too late to save it.

The trick is, to hold on to it as long as you can… and cherish it… before you lose it.

Moments...

Life is full of moments; they are the things that actually make life so wonderful. There is just one problem about the moments, they are fleeting. Before we have a chance, to really take the moment in, it is gone and all that is left is a memory… a memory that will forever be cherished.

A Light...

  

When life gets dark and things seem like you are forever trapped in the darkness that life throws at you.  Just when you are about to give up and allow the waves to smash you upon the rocks… Just when you need it most. A light. The light will guide you from the darkness, back into the beautiful reality that is life.

The light is different for every situation and for each person, it is what brings comfort and lets you know that no matter what… things will soon right themselves.

(The photo is one of Mississippi’s most famous landmarks, The Biloxi lighthouse. Built in 1848 it has survived the civil war, and numerous destructive hurricanes including Camille and Katrina. It is currently displayed on the Mississippi automobile tags.)

Phoenix

Things change through our life, things that we do not necessarily want to change. Change usually comes in a violent abusive manner, sometimes it comes as a breeze on a summer day. No matter how it comes, it usually is met with opposition, but it will always persevere and we will adapt to the new environment we are forced into.

(This is a view of the Biloxi-Gulfport area; it was nearly completely destroyed in 2005 by Hurricane Katrina… most of what you see here are the people of Mississippi raising like a phoenix from the debris that Katrina left in her wake.)

Things Lost... Returned!

Things done as a child can linger as memories for the rest of your life, and sometimes doing those things can make feelings long dead come back. I’ve managed to bring many of these feelings back to life when I rediscovered things from my youth… things like fishing. I’ve even had a chance to share these memories and feelings with friends and loved ones, and introduced some of these to a new generation creating new memories.

This is life, not that washed down version we get on a daily basis when we do what we always do… this is really living: experience, love, memories.

About the photo: Crystal Lake in Flowood, Mississippi. Created when the Pearl River was straightened during the construction of the Ross Barnett Reservoir. This former river channel is no longer connected to the Pearl River and is maintained by several former river tributaries.