"God never shuts a door, but he opens a window."
"When life hands you a lemon, make lemonade."
I think those two old sayings amount to pretty much the same thing, perhaps different sides of the same coin. Close enough anyway.
Today, the weather prevented us from doing what we had intended to do: drive to Algonquin Part. That was a little disappointing. However, the morning was still dry, if cloudy, so we seized the opportunity to — you guessed it — go on a little bicycle ride.
The things about a bicycle is that you stop hurrying, and life stops hurrying past you. So it was that we turned down a country road, about three kilometres south of us, that we had hitherto ignored in our myriad car-passings. The road, if it could be called that, was rather a nice ride in its own right. At one point, we, in effect, found ourselves riding under and through an arbour. Pretty nice stuff that!
The real treat, however, awaited us at the end of the trail. There was a wonderful view of the lake, the kind of view that I had searched for in vain yesterday. It was down a hill, and there was just enough of a clearing through the bush to see the water and the autumn-coloured shored on the far side (see the first photo above).
We got off our bikes and trespassed onto private property, just far enough to take a picture or two. Someone was home and asked us what we were doing but seemed comfortable with our answers and suggested another picture to take: of a grove of trees just behind the house (see the second photo). We even chatted amiably with the owner for a few moments before heading back home — just in time to beat the rain as it turned out.
So, I guess we made lemonade by doing something proactive to replace the big trip (we could have moped), and I guess that God (in the real or abstract — whichever your theological preference) opened an unexpected window. How satisfying!
How delightful life can be if we choose to take delight in it.
2 comments:
I am so envious! What a breathtaking view! This truly is my favorite season of the year. With time comes change, it's inevitable. Reminds me of a line from a song I once heard "To every new beginning, comes an old beginning's end" That's how I see Autumn. The preparation for a new year. So refreshing and filling for my spirit!
Thank you very much for sharing those images with all of us!! =)
Your photos are so beautiful especially for someone who lives in a place where there is no autumn!
Two years ago about this time i went with a tour group to the Smoky mountains of Tennessee and for the first time saw the fall foliage... the wonderful autumn colors!!! there is something about it that touches the soul and brings a smile to ones face! You are lucky to have to experience it every year... but sometimes a detour can really make you appreciate it more :-).
"...How delightful life can be if we choose to take delight in it."
this is also a good quote and so totally true!
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