Reflections

Water Reflection

I need reflection. Sometimes I have to reflect on what is important in my life right now and what is not.  After this picture was taken I took a video of more water reflection. Check it out here as there is a small fun surprise. The water was in a great reflective mood throughout our trip but it was sure hard to see the rocks hidden just under the surface. I left part of my canoe on a couple of them. I suspect there is quite an object lesson in life I should learn (sometime).

I have been called a dreamer and I suppose it’s somewhat true. I take time to reflect and dream as I tend to go through life 90+ mph and really don’t have the time to get it right when it comes to a proper perspective. Reflecting time in the wilderness helps but not until the fourth day have I slowed enough to see the needles on the pine trees. Paddling a canoe, listening to the waves or a crackling fire also slows me down so much my mind interprets it as depression (but it’s a happy depression in this place). This particular trip I thought about all the responsibilities I have taken on and those I have avoided. Job, church, music, speaking, and a few people came to mull this time. Sometimes God has a peculiar way of being silent when I ask him about it and I don’t have any leverage on the Almighty as some seem to think is possible.

A profitable reflection takes time. It’s also a good thing to stay out of the picture.  Somehow my reflection in the water felt more out-of-place than the moon. Why is it hard to understand that so much of life is not about me? Why do I try to fit into more pictures than I should? I guess that’s a part of my fascination with reflection. Where do I fit in this life and is there a better way to go about it? What am I missing that is probably right in front of me? So I throw a rock into the water and my therapy session, um, reflection time is over.

My goal is to understand past the depths of all those motivational quotes, bible verses, and easy answers that so easily come to mind when I get in a reflective place. There were hidden depths to the water mirrored in front of me as I sat pondering and admiring the wonders of nature. My prayer to God was “Lord show me the depths of living a life with purpose to you and all those around me.” Sometimes the clear water is a mirror and sometimes it’s like seeing through glass depending on the conditions. I want to be there when I can see the depths of lake and life.

What do you do to take time to reflect? does it work? how do you get past the surface reflection into the depths of life?