“When words become unclear, I shall focus with photographs. When images become inadequate, I shall be content with silence.”
Ansel Adams
Silence. It’s an important part of photography. Silence is also an important factor in meditation. I sometimes capture my best images when I’m shooting solo. Speaking of silence and meditation. One of my favorite places to photograph in Madison, Connecticut and somewhere I haven’t been in awhile is the
The Mercy Center is a retreat center in Madison, Connecticut that welcomes individuals and groups of diverse faiths and backgrounds to a peaceful place of natural beauty for personal, spiritual and professional renewal and growth. (This from the About Us page Mercy Center’s website.) I sometimes go there without my camera just to sit and reflect on what’s important in my life. I haven’t taken part in any of their programs, yet I’ve often thought about doing so. The Mercy Center is such a peaceful place and Madison is fortunate to have the center.
As with some of us who have a more spiritual nature, we sometimes take great pleasure from being alone with our thoughts. Silence plays a significant role in my life and when I can delve into that aspect of myself I can reinvigorated. Being out with my camera when I can be by myself can be a very spiritual time. I find that many of the outdoor activities that I partake in sometimes gives me great pleasure when I’m on my own. I can sit and contemplate when I want too. I can walk in the woods when I want too.
As I sit here on Sunday, October 23, 2011 writing this blog column for tomorrow, I’ve suddenly become aware the one of my favorite bloggers, Jessica M. at Ascending The Hills wrote a column last Saturday, October 15 called:
At the River’s Edge. In that column, Jessica wrote:
My aim is always to avoid as many people as I can and experience as much solitude as is possible. We oftentimes hike down steep paths, skirting the presence of others, until nestling into one of the river’s many curves, etched out by its persistent and ever continuous flow.
So, see? This proves my point in the previous paragraph that:
those of us who have a more spiritual nature, take great pleasure from being alone with our thoughts.
The same with when I fished earlier in my life. Which is not to say I’m anti social. Nothing could be further from the truth. My life is extremely public and I like it that way. But because I lead such a public life I also value my downtime.
There are a very few people I have no challenges with. They can be with me anytime and I never feel as if I’m being infringed upon. These are the people everyone should be fortunate to have. We understand when silence is a good thing and not uncomfortable.
I left a comment at Jessica’s column and said that I hadn’t found a spiritual haven yet. But maybe now after recalling the times I spent at The Mercy Center I REALLY have found my place.
Have you found your spiritual haven?
Be Happy! Be Well! Be Positive!
Blessings to you.
—
Chris
