Of Sunbeams and Rainbows, Look Up!

“Hold out your hands to feel the luxury of the sunbeams.” ~ Helen Keller

“My heart leaps up when I behold a rainbow in the sky.” ~ William Wordsworth

“Friendship is like a rainbow between two hearts.” ~Author unknown
“The beauty of the sunbeam lies partly in the fact that God does not keep it; he gives it away to us all.” ~ David Swing

“A single sunbeam is enough to drive away many shadows.” ~ St. Francis of Assisi

“As on the driving cloud the shiny Bow, that gracious thing made up of tears and light.” ~ Samuel Taylor Coleridge

“In the world’s audience hall, the simple blade of grass sits on the same carpet with the sunbeams, and the stars of midnight.” ~Rabindranath Tagore

“The smiling daughter of the storm.” ~Charles Caleb Colton

“Rainbows apologize for angry skies.” ~Sylvia Voirol

“If you have good thoughts they will shine out of your face like sunbeams and you will always look lovely.” ~ Roald Dahl

“Laughter is a sunbeam of the soul.” ~ Thomas Mann

“And when it rains on your parade, look up rather than down. Without the rain, there would be no rainbow.” ~G.K. Chesterton

“Never has the warm caress of a sunbeam seemed so ominous.” ~ Joel Achenbach

The Photo Challenge theme this week is “Look Up“.

It’s been a very tragic week in these United States of America. As I watch the events my heart breaks for so many, for so much, and especially for my country. It’s easy to be buried in all of this and tempted to think we will never emerge from the stain of racism. But are we really that racist? The extreme rhetoric from both sides that fills the internet would convince us that we are. But those are words. Do we really act that way in real life?

My own community of friends and acquaintances are from different races and countries. We care deeply for and respect each other. We laugh and cry together. We share life together and accomplish wonderful things; like rainbows and sunbeams that split through dust and clouds and rain.

One friend told me the story of how her tire blew the other day. She was alone on the side of the highway and two different people pulled over to help her. One was a Black man. The other Hispanic. She is White. Not one hint about skin color. Just people working together to help someone in need. Sunbeams and rainbows. They are in our very midst everyday. They don’t make the news but their actions are how most of us really are.

I’m glad God sets examples in the sky; sunbeams and rainbows. Neither can happen really well without dust and clouds and rain. Aside from the events of the past week, life is very hard just on its own. It’s tough to work and make a living, to take care of our families, to raise children. Life is filled with a lot of stress—dust, clouds, and rain. The people we rub shoulders with everyday are the rainbows and sunbeams that get us through.

Though my nation is filled with clouds, dust, and storms right now I hope we can look up and find the rainbows and sunbeams that surround us every day, just like my friend did. Just like I do.

We may never make the headlines. But we are a great story.

I hope these photos lift you up from where you are.
And remember, we are all Americans.
Let us love one another.

Peace, Alexandria

Opposite Attraction | Moonstruck

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“Look how the pale queen of the silent night
Doth cause the ocean to attend upon her….” ~Charles Best, “A Sonnet of the Moon”

Light and dark. Opposing forces. Both strong in their own right. Both necessary to our human existence. These opposites are not offended whatsoever when one space invades the other.

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“Moonlight is sculpture.” ~Nathaniel Hawthorne

For nothing shows their contrast best than when they invade the other’s space. They actually flourish together. Both are resplendent in beauty.

They are a remarkable, blinding, spectacular pair.

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“Together, we form a necessary paradox; not a senseless contradiction.” ~ Criss Jami

It is said opposites attract. In nature it seems to be a constant. But our human nature seeks to avoid what is opposite.

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“A man is a very small thing, and the night is very large and full of wonders.” ~Edward Plunkett

Though we can draw many lessons about light and darkness, the opposites in nature serve only to enhance each other. The moon shines brilliant. Stars sweep across the black sky in a breathtaking swash. Yet there is no complaint from the sky as these intruders invade its space.

Why, we humans even invade and see what happens? All so lovely!

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“The night walked down the sky with the moon in her hand.” ~Frederick Knowles

Perhaps we should not fight our opposites whoever they may be. As dark sky “walks down the moon” to merge in a shining display, and we add our playful silhouettes, can we not do the same with each other?

Would we be any less spectacular?

Peace, Alexandria

This is my contribution to the Weekly Photo Challenge with the theme “Opposite”. The theme can be interpreted in so many ways but I chose the contrast of light and dark. For others, click here.
P.S. Apologies if you received this twice. The link didn’t work on the first one. I think it’s fixed on this one. 🙂

13 Comments

by Alexandria Sage on July 5, 2016 • Permalink

Posted in Enjoy Life

Tagged night photography, photo essay, Weekly Photo Challenge

Posted by Alexandria Sage on July 5, 2016

https://simplysage.org/2016/07/05/opposite-attraction-moonstruck/

Curve Around the World

FullMoon

“There is something particularly special and personal about the circle and how its curves comfortable rule every aspect of our lives.” ~ Kat Kahr, Parallelism of Cyclicality

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In choosing photos for this week’s photo challenge with the theme “Curve” I’m featuring some favorites from the past. They include photos by Dan Pope, Stephanie Goddard, Stephen Deal, and yours truly. I’d appreciate if you’d explore the links. It helps me as I test my new .live domain.
Thanks and do EnJoy. 🙂
Alexandria

Be Thou the Rainbow
“Be thou the rainbow in the storms of life. The evening beam that smiles the clouds away, and tints tomorrow with prophetic ray.” ~ Lord Byron

The Master Speaks
“A chief event of life is the day in which we have encountered a mind that startled us.” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

LoveSong
“Love moves in sync with the cadence of forgiveness, sings in tune with the melody of acceptance, and dances in rhythm with the music of companionship.” ~ Steve Maraboli

Friendship Formulae
“To get the full value of joy you must find someone to divide it with.” ~ Mark Twain

The Beauty of a True Friend
“You have been my friend. That in itself is a tremendous thing. I wove my webs for you because I liked you. After all, what’s a life, anyway? We’re born, we live a little while, we die. A spider’s life can’t help being something of a mess, with all this trapping and eating flies. By helping you, perhaps I was trying to lift up my life a trifle. Heaven knows anyone’s life can stand a little of that.” ~ Charlotte, Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White

LifeLines
“Life forms illogical patterns. It is haphazard and full of beauties which I try to catch as they fly by, for who knows whether any of them will ever return?” ~ Margot Fonteyn

13 Comments

by Alexandria Sage on June 20, 2016 • Permalink

Posted in Enjoy Life

Tagged inspirational quotes, photography, Weekly Photo Challenge

Posted by Alexandria Sage on June 20, 2016

https://simplysage.org/2016/06/20/through-the-years-curve-around-the-world/

Purely Summer

Purified

With summer in full swing here, I’m going to change things up a bit. Increased family demands and just loving the outdoors has nudged out any time for writing so I’m taking a break from it this summer.

Evening Blush

But with the camera as a welcome part of the demands I’ll be sharing more photos.

Arrival of Morn

I’m trying to take part in the Weekly Photo Challenge hosted by WordPress, my blog platform. But I hope to share in-between as well. The writing will be brief, three-hundred words or less. After all, I’m sure you have plenty of other summer reading to do!

Fire over Water

For this week’s Challenge, the theme is “Pure“. My mind went several directions until I finally settled on some photos of the ocean. Since the beach is my “go-to” place to purify my heart, I thought I’d share some favorites. Be sure to turn your device to landscape to capture the full purity of the views. Makes a difference! 😊

Zoom for a closer look. Turn phone to side

Dawn. Crisp, Clear. Pure. Zoom in to see a crescent moon. Stunning!

Storm over Water

Then there’s the storms and artistry of clouds. So settling. Cleansing!

Wind over Water

The breezes gently sweep and scatter all the busyness that inhabits my mind. It clears the clutter and tidies up my heart and with renewed clarity, I can focus on what’s really important.

Pure Morning

I am swept clean! Purified!

I hope you’ll enjoy my upcoming summer “short series”.

Let’s have some summer fun!

But most of all, have a fun summer! 🙂

More soon,
Alexandria

P.S. SimplySage is in transition. It’s gone from simplysage.org to simplysage.me to simplysage.live. It takes several weeks for search engines to re-index my site so I’m kind of lost in internet space right now. The .me and .org do not work.
I’ll spare all the reasons. If I explain I’ll go way beyond three-hundred words! 🙂

For other interpretation of “Pure”, click here.

12 Comments

by Alexandria Sage on June 13, 2016 • Permalink

Posted in Enjoy Life

Tagged enjoy life, joy, photo essay, photography, summer fun, Weekly Photo Challenge

Posted by Alexandria Sage on June 13, 2016

https://simplysage.org/2016/06/13/beach-photos/

Jubilant Community

The Weekly Photo Challenge theme this week is “Jubilant“. I’m sharing the abundant flowering of a clematis I bought three years ago at WalMart. In its first year it had less than five blooms.

Thinking it wasn’t feeling too much at home here, I nestled it among good things; roses, lilies, shrubs. I gave it the proper light and good old-fashioned fertilizer. And I remained … waiting.

In gardening of any kind there is so much waiting!

In its second summer it was just a scraggly green bush. Cute. But so shy! And so I waited another year.

And it finally opened up!

And blossomed unimaginable!

No more shyness. No more hesitation.

In fact, as the quote says, it is a perpetual astonishment. We are nearing June and it’s full of buds.

The vine is branching out beyond. But it’s still connected to home. Through the wind and rain it’s held tight.

It’s all become its own little community. The vine gently weaves a pattern with the flowers. Together they reside. Yet the tender flowers are never destroyed. Nor is the vine ever suffocated by the broad, expansive flower.

Look how they cling to each other as good friends. Neighbors. Caring for, looking out for each other. And the seed pods are so abundant that next year I’ll need to add another trellis. This community is growing! Good neighbors do that.

Good neighbors promote growth. And speaking of neighbors …

What ever happened to being a good neighbor? Watching out for, protecting, sharing, loving, being kind?

Different, but dwelling together?

Whatever happened to “community”? Real community. Real people rubbing shoulders with real people. In the earlier photo, the clematis is neighbors with the lilies, roses, and shrubs. All different. But look how beautiful together.

Today there are all these “online communities” and believe me, I’m all for them.

But sometimes I wonder if we’ve forgotten how to be with real people. We sit in our temperature-controlled environment and pluck away on the keyboard or our smartphones and call it community.

And another thing I see as I scroll through social media is how easily it is to be unkind. Words filled with so much venom. I wonder would they be that way if they were face-to-face?

Somehow, I think not.

There’s an abundance of words and opinions nowadays. And I am definitely a free-speech warrior. But imagine the human—the actual real live person. Think about your words before you type. And work toward a jubilant display such as this. Nurturing beyond just existence. Nurturing to grow.

Good neighbors.

Can we not do this? Whether online or in person, is it so hard to do?

Peace, Alexandria

15 Comments

by Alexandria Sage on May 26, 2016 • Permalink

Posted in Stay Close with Those You Love

Tagged flower photography, photo essay, photography, Weekly Photo Challenge

Posted by Alexandria Sage on May 26, 2016

https://simplysage.org/2016/05/26/jubilant-community/

Color Me Red! | Vibrant

Here in the depth of winter the Weekly Photo Challenge theme is “Vibrant“. Ahhh … a winter break from black and white! And what a great theme to showcase my favorite color—red! Our recent blizzard allowed this red bush a standing ovation.

Amidst the ice and snow the bush got my attention. So red!

I zoomed in for a closer look,

and the vibrant, red leaves glistened as the ice completely enveloped them, dripping like jewels.

And since I’d just replenished birdseed, another brush of red caught my eye through my kitchen window. After juggling the camera and ten pictures later I found this one deemed worthy. 🙂

Rust-Tinge

I love all vibrant colors but red always turns my head.

From barns,

to cars,

Vintage Companions

to mums,

Magnificent Mums

to roses,

to my four-wheeler. 🙂

Capture the Mooon

I’ve even splashed it on a few walls in my home,

Christmas Gift Suggestions

and it graces my front door. 🙂

Welcome Closer

I just love red and can’t help but share the following quote. I’m no psychoanalyst, but maybe this is why:

“I’m in love with red. I think it’s such a passionate color. Every flag of every country pretty much has red in it. It’s power. There’s no fence-sitting with red. Either you love it or you don’t. I think it’s blood and strength and life. I do love red.” ~ Brian Batt

Fire and Ice

And while taking the blizzard photos I noticed one of the ice-enveloped leaves glistening in the shape of a beautiful heart.

Midwinter's Night Dream

So, while I’m at it, Happy Valentines! 🙂

“Nature always wears the colors of the spirit.” ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

For more bloggers’ interpretations of Vibrant click here.
Other “Vibrant” posts I liked:
Say It With a Camera
Campbeltown and Islay Photography
Pauses and Clicks

15 Comments

by Alexandria Sage on February 5, 2016 • Permalink

Posted in Enjoy Life, Just For Fun, Weekly Photo Challenge

Tagged photo essay, Weekly Photo Challenge, winter photography

Posted by Alexandria Sage on February 5, 2016

https://simplysage.org/2016/02/05/color-me-red-vibrant/

The Time is Now!

As we celebrate another Christmas, memories of the past are a common thread woven through our countless conversations. We truly are wired to dwell on the past or dream about the future, aren’t we? The photo challenge this week prompts us to think of the “now”, the present. And so I thought I’d share a sweet moment I quickly captured.

After being fenced off from the gifts for an entire week, it was finally time! Now! The blockade was removed and my littlest grandson scurried a quick path straight to a different kind of “present”!

I hope you enjoy your “present”. And your presents, too!

And finally, may another kind of “present” fill your life.

The presence of Jesus Christ—Emmanuel, which means “God with us.”

Present.

Remember, His time is always “now“.

Peace and Merry Christmas!
Alexandria

4 Comments

by Alexandria Sage on December 27, 2015 • Permalink

Posted in Devotionals

Tagged Children, Christianity, Christmas, Christmas reflections for kids, enjoy life, spirituality, the time is now, Weekly Photo Challenge

Posted by Alexandria Sage on December 27, 2015

https://simplysage.org/2015/12/27/the-time-is-now/

WRITTEN IN THE SKY – Dec. 24

Once in awhile I come across post that just immerses my attention. And the post below is a reblog of exactly one of those.

Completely fascinating! It’s a topic glossed over in numerous Christmas themes, songs, and carols. It’s form sits atop most of our Christmas trees, yet it’s logic defies all knowledge. And it’s wonder even escapes the most astute true Christian believers.

Skeptics may begin to consider a truth that transcends beyond their usual logical conclusions. And true believers will be filled with an even greater faith in the miracle we call in this modern day, “Christmas”.

I hope you take the time to read this very short post, even watch The Star of Bethlehem video. (It’s currently available via YouTube.)

Enjoy the magnificence!
Peace, Alexandria

A DEVOTED LIFE

“saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” Matthew 2:2

I love art.
I am a fan, not an expert.

As a fan, I can appreciate the beautiful; marvel at mastery; admire creativity; absorb emotion. However, the artist’s meaning is often lost in mere fandom. An artist’s message often flies over my engineering oriented head as I just appreciate the exhibition.

I am greatly assisted by the art experts who explain the symbolism crafted into a piece. I love the pure joy in reading a work of literature for entertainment. I also love the delightful astonishment from the revelation of a carefully crafted message imbedded in a work of which I was oblivious.

I often appreciate art in its various forms and know that I am missing a deeper meaning.

This is…

View original post 749 more words

Change, Certain as the Seasons | Weekly Photo Challenge: Transition

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And so we are deep into Autumn— glittering, majestic autumn. And as I ponder nature’s stunning finish, it’s that time where I do some real hard thinking about the past year. The transition is so rapid from day-to-day that if you wait you’ll miss that particular color or hue. And as fall dozes into winter I think about my soul; how the seasons mirror my own rhythm. The time for reflection is upon me.
Autumn.

Fall Dozes

And then winter.

Winter Sleeps

DSC01300. StormScapesIII

As nature curls into hibernation, it seems I do the same. The transition into winter begins here with the holidays.

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But once the tree and tinsel are down and tucked away, so am I. Oh, there’s plenty of work to do; my home, family, and job. But with no deadlines or travel my soul goes into a hibernation of sorts; rest. Just pure, glorious rest.

Right now I live in a place where seasons change. I lived in the American desert southwest for a brief period. Though it possesses an outrageous and incredible beauty, I missed the changing seasons. Once you get used to those rhythms your soul ever longs for them. We’re always ready for them, aren’t we?

Spring Sings!

But there’s something else about the seasons that fills me with something bittersweet. Because with those rhythms comes the certainty of change. And I don’t like change. I wish everything to stay as is. But “there is a time for each matter under heaven” and I know God has his hand in every aspect of my life—blessings and difficulties. Difficult times will come, but there are many good things surrounding me, too.

Oh, life–the blend of trial and blessing, seasons filled with change. Remembrance of last year fills me now with warm nostalgia. Things have changed this year and some changes I don’t like, but some I do.

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Summer Shouts!

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As I look at my sweet grandsons I wish so hard they would stay children. But they won’t.

As I relish their moments of childlike delight I wonder, will they have this much fun next year? I cling a little tighter to these moments and to them, all the while knowing they both slip from my grasp.

Why do I resist change when I know change is certain? Why does change fill a corner of my heart with an unsettling angst? I cry against it to no avail and it comes anyway. Why can’t I be like nature, welcoming with open arms, and just settle into it quite nicely, ready for the next? Yes, change is certain.

But there is a certainty of which I’m glad there is no change.

“I the Lord do not change.” ~ Malachi 3:6

First Voice

Though God set into motion seasons of glorious nature, he exempted himself from change. This truth abides. This is the certainty I most need. I need his constant grace, mercy, and forgiveness. And he gives all. His love and mercy are the same—when we fall, when we stand. His hand is ever there to walk us through storms or meadows.

Within the unexpected turns of life He knew we needed–I need–a constant something.

Or rather—Someone.

And I’ve never been out of His hand.

“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.” ~ Ecclesiastes 3:1

“The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” ~ Lamentations 3:22-23

This is my interpretation for the Weekly Photo Challenge with the theme “Transition”. I hope you enjoy. 🙂
Peace, Alexandria

1 Comment

by Alexandria Sage on November 29, 2015 • Permalink

Posted in Devotionals

Tagged autumn, autumn reflections, Christian devotionals, Christianity, God, photo essay, photography, reflections

Posted by Alexandria Sage on November 29, 2015

https://simplysage.org/2015/11/29/change-certain-as-the-seasons-weekly-photo-challenge-transition/

Best Buds |Weekly Photo Challenge: My Happy Place

When I saw the photo challenge titled “Happy Place” the words that immediately came to mind were “travel destinations”—places that invoke that glorious feeling of combined rest and joy, one definition known as “happiness”. I thought of places I’ve been (North Myrtle Beach).

or places I’ve dreamed of going (Moorea).

When I went to Acadia National Park (above) I thought, “Oh, now this it. This is the ultimate, the place to unwind, to get away.” I was happy!

However, travel can bring its own stresses, as we all know. The planning, packing, and getting to-and-from can be tiring. You’ve heard people say, “I need a vacation from my vacation!” 🙂

It can feel like chasing the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow,

or trying to truly capture the presence and majesty of another breathtaking moonrise,

or that ever elusive butterfly.

But when you’re in immediate and desperate need of joy, finding a happy place cannot always be found by thumbing through travel guides for yet another trip or even dreaming of those places.

It’s times like that I totally forget a happy place that lives right out my front porch. Most of the time I find I’m looking beyond it, rushing past it toward some goal, the “next thing”, that place called “when I finally get there, I will be happy!”

I forget the happy place staring straight at me. It’s a place where they’re straining their necks to grab me, to get my attention, to make me stop in my haste to happiness and see that they are what I really need;

that they live, they thrive, they exist to make me happy! (I’m convinced they serve no other purpose.) They are my never-ending friends, through every season, through every joy, through every sorrow. They are constant and oh, how I take them for granted!