Recently my spirituality has led me to enjoy the various sights and experiences along the path rather than worry about the destination. Even more, I have been inspired to try different paths such as the fog-laden walkway that rings our local golf course. Though I would never attempt to play the game, the winding golf course fairways provide beautiful scenes as well as mystical metaphorical vistas.
On the evening of December 24th, with others in the herchurch community, I sang Jann Aldredge-Clanton’s hymn “O Holy Darkness, Loving Womb.†Her lyrics are set to the familiar tune that also accompanies “O Little Town of Bethlehem.†You can hear the hymn with a wonderful slideshow that Jann produced to embody her hymn. It is imbedded in an article she recently wrote for the Feminism and Religion Blog.
Fog and trees, crashing waves, red Russula mushrooms and migratory birds meet me on my walking paths these past days. They are always wonderful visual surprises. May the unknown paths that await you in the coming year surprise you with new sight/vision/dreams/experiences.
My own first pathway in 2015 will lead me to Cuba via a photographer’s People-to-People trip. I look forward to what promises to be a great learning experience as we interact with the Cuban people and explore the architecture of Old Havana and its new skyline.
Excursions will take us to the colonial town of Trinidad on the southern coast, Vinales Valley, and Cienfuegos. We will walk in the tobacco fields, observe a children’s ballet school, and hear and see presentations of Cuban history, art and culture. Along with my box of (now legal) Cuban cigars, I hope to bring home some stunning images (love those old cars) and stirring stories! My next blog will be post-Cuba.
So for now, hasta luego! (I wish I had learned Spanish years ago.)
