Today I thought about contrast. 

I thought about how nothing in nature rushes, though everything is accomplished.  I thought about how when we take life one step at a time all things are manageable.  Just look at how roots of a tree can crack and destroy concrete foundations or how a steady drip of water can, over time, bore holes and trenches in impossible places.  Vines and trees devour walls and fences.  Nature won't stop, not even for a moment, to consider how to remove the barrier to its growth. It simply keeps growing until whatever was in its way relents, compromises, bows, cracks, bends, opens, and surrenders.  And so, if we decide to take a lesson from nature, we learn that slow and soft persistence is often the ideal route when faced with the seemingly impenetrable.

This week, I encourage you to find contrast in your life and in nature. 

As always, remember to check out the enthusiastic submissions from  last week's hunt at Flickr!  Also beautifully blogged at child of tree, minute musings, crunchy cursive, the peaceful peacock, so wabi sabi, exhale.return to center, earthy crafty mommy, of grateful praise, and peppermint alley.

e.

Comments

[jennifer]

beautifully written. profoundly received. you are surely challenging us beyond art. i continue to be encouraged.

[last week's hunt also blogged @ ofgratefulpraise.blogspot.com]

[Theresa]

I'm not quite sure how you do it, but your writing always seems to provide an answer to something with which I am struggling. On a night when my anxiety threatens to stop me in my tracks, I come here...and I feel the peace that has so often escaped me. Thank you.

[http://mysweetbabu.typepad.com]

Great minds think alike, I too wrote about slowing things down today! Maybe it is in the air?!

I feel like it is so important to find our natural rhythm. Things can become very chaotic, but as long as I am aware of it and make the time to get back to basics, I am able to find my peace. But, I must say that for all of the craziness of last week and the weekend, I feel like these times make me appreciate the simplicity of my life just that much more.

[Lisa Stone]

"Slow and steady wins the race." This has always been my motto.

For 15 years, now, I have worked so hard at being aware of this. I live in a place where everything and everyone is just the opposite Long Island). It is so difficult to remember to experience every moment, but I so believe that this is why we are here. We must experience our lives. Thanks for providing a place to come to be with people who think alike!

[Ana]

That is a lovely photograph.

[Becca]

This one proved to be interesting in the "at work" part of my search (still looking for the "at home" image). I've blogged what I found at http://listeningandlaundry.blogspot.com/

Looking forward to next week!

[gennysent]

Hi Erin,
I blogged this today! Great project. I love it. I have to limit myself because otherwise I'll take way too many pics!

http://gennysent.blogspot.com/2009/06/new-projects.html

[paige]

I've blogged mine for this week at http://mi-nutemusings.blogspot.com/2009/06/contrasthard-and-soft.html

[Leanne]

thanks for the insight and challenge, erin. wonderful as always!

blogged at http://crunchycursive.com/2009/06/11/contrast/

[Linnea]

This one reminded me of a show that I went to a couple months ago. Blogged this week at http://peppermintalley.shadowtraveler.com/2009/06/13/words-balance-and-contrast/

[exhale. return to center.]

this week's challenge was just that...a challenge. one i am glad i accepted!

blogged here: http://eringoodman.com/blog/?p=6822

[Elizabeth]

I agree with others. This week's challenge was very challenging. I saw lots of contrast all week, but had trouble capturing it with the camera. I blogged about my shots here
http://www.sowabisabi.com/2009/06/week-in-snapshots.html
Thanks so much!

[earthycraftymommy]

Hi Erin,
Wow...another great challenge! I also had a tough time with this one, but was grateful to have to stretch for it. Had some luck one afternoon with a turtle crossing the road :-)

Blogged:

http://earthycraftymommy.blogspot.com/2009/06/contrasts-benches-and-some-vintage-love.html

Thanks again for the inspiration...looking forward to the next challenge!

~Michelle

[the peaceful peacock]

So inspiring!! It's so fun to spend the week soaking in visions for these treasure hunts. It helps bring me a sense of calm during the chaotic bliss of summer.

Though my photography skills are not the best, I'm grateful for the opportunity to further develop them:

http://thepeacefulpeacock.wordpress.com/2009/06/15/it-begins-with-a-colour-studio-at-daybreak/