Reflections

The other day I took a bike ride. I took it to an unfamiliar place, and treated my journey as a gravitation towards some sort of worldly understanding. 

But what does it even mean to understand the world?

No body has the same view of the world, each person has their own personal perception of reality. Every person sees the world in a different light.

Along my bike ride, and in the distance, I saw the perfect spot to reflect. It was on a picnic bench behind a church, overlooking a lake. The weather was perfect with a fall coolness to the air, and the sun creating shadows under trees.

I sat down on the bench and closed my eyes. I began to feel, hear, and smell what was around me. I reflected upon the breeze which grazed my cheek, the sound of children playing in the yard beside me, the smell of the rich oak trees mixed with water flowers. I designed a masterpiece in my mind of what I would see once I opened my eyes. 

And just as my eyes saw the trees reflect against the water and the light breeze send gentle ripples towards the shore, I began reflecting on how every move I make is a reflection of myself and where I am going. 

This masterpiece, this sliver of time captured in a picture had more to say about life than anything else at that very moment. 

I continued to watch the birds fly over the water with such ease and familiarity. Flying above with clear view of their afternoon snack they dive into the water. Graceful in flight, and peaceful by nature, the confident creature captures the very object of its current affection.

Flowers and trees surround this beautiful masterpiece of nature as serving as spectators to an amazing gift. Seemingly lonely and of not much use, they grant beauty and individuality to the picture. Pleasing to the eye and so scientifically imperfect the structure and color they add is what makes it complete.

Just as the young squirrel sits upon the shore daring not to dip his feet in the water, does the lonely man sit upon the shore of life, watching as the world passes by. Chilled by the breeze creates fear and anxiety in what he sees. He closes his eyes, and develops his own masterpiece.

For he, though now afraid, will grow to be strong. Because he sees the world from the outside. 

He accepts his own reality, he understands the nature of his perceptions, and he steps in the water without fear of what comes next.