A Secret Spot Crossing the Railroad of Life

Last weekend, our dear friends R & Z asked if we had any plans for the evening, if we wanted to go exploring, and if we did, did we know of somewhere we could go to hike (not too far away).  I thought for a moment, and then I knew... I remembered a little spot just off the road that we had found last summer while boating on the river, just outside town.  We had beached our boat on the shore, and walked the shoreline, and happened upon a little trail that eventually brought one out to the main highway.  It actually turned out to be part of a nature preserve that was started many years ago, and had fallen into somewhat disrepair, with only an old sign to mark it.  I'd wanted to go back different times, but that had never happened. However, this past weekend, I knew that was exactly where we could go.

As we walked down the little winding trail towards the lake, we spotted these beautiful blue and yellow flowers.  They were most dainty in appearance, and gracefully waving in the breeze.

And a lovely gathering of lupins greeted us as well!

Their lush and fragrant purple-blue flowers were a delight to behold. 

As we got down to the river, the sun was shedding its last rays for the day.

There was a warm glow over the darkening landscape.

In case you haven't discovered this yet about me... I simply LOOOVE sunsets! ....

There is something so peaceful and calm about the transition from daylight to dark, and it always soothes my soul to revel in the beauty of the moment.

We spotted four goslings hiding in the bushes, or rather we heard them.  Momma had flown into the water and was calling out to them, and they were calling back to her.

It was so wonderful to watch the miracle of life in action with Momma calling out to the babies and guiding them to her.  We stood and watched as the previously hidden babies came running out of hiding and went sliding down the rocky slope into the water to join Momma for the night.  There were four of them, but only three in this picture, as the fourth one ran quite a bit farther down the bank before venturing into the water, and I wasn't able to get them all in the picture together.

The soft light of the last rays of sunshine cast their last rosy tones over the landscape.  

 

As we crossed back across the railroad after our lovely hike was over, I couldn't help be amazed at this picture of the symmetrical lines of the railroad extending into the distant horizon, covered with the orange glow of the setting sun.

Something about railroads and how they stretch into the horizon, reminded me of our lives and how when we are young, they stretch out before us endlessly.  Yet... each passing day the older we get, brings us closer to the horizon of life where there is an ending, and we must prepare now, while there is daylight for the time when the end of the line is reached.

May the lines and roads of your life follow purpose 

as you focus on the Divine One 

Who is able to guide and lead us safely 

along this railroad of life, 

around each corner, hill, and plain 

to that place in the far distant horizon... 

where the sun never sets....  

Remember to enjoy the journey as you travel... 

you may never pass this way again.  

May the Lord bless the "railroad" of your life  

with a secret spot along the way 

to brighten and calm 

your life with its beauty today.