Sunshine On a Gray Day (8 IMAGES)

So!  Here I was again, pulling into Chestnut Ridge County Park for my seven mile walk just after having a very tough and exasperating morning.  I was late. I was frazzled.  I looked at the time and groaned.  My Life just seems to be “dictated” by time and if I truly wished to do anything for myself, I had to jump into chunks of time between two fixed points, A and B.  Sighing, I just sat in my car collecting my thoughts and as I did, my eye caught a panorama set out before me.

Wow!  Quickly I jumped out of my car to assume a position about the same as when I was sitting in my car, framed the view on my phone, and snapped!!!  Gray and dismal, with heavy lead laden clouds, damp and dreary this day may be, but darn it, I would find sunshine somewhere!!!

The silhouette of Buffalo lay nestled in grays and a hint of orange.  I stood for many a minute just taking in the view.  OK!!! I can do this walk and since I am pressed for time, I will have to move!  I collected all I would be taking with me, locked my car, and off I went.  I again was dressed in layers even though I could visibly see my breath!  (It seemed without the sun shining it was more challenging to bring in a clear selfie.)

As I walked and did so as fast as I could, I prayed the entire time for signs of sunshine for me to find.  The Angels of this forest heard and rejoiced, for They went ahead of me in glee to make sure I would see this …

SMILING!!!  HEART SIGHS …
⇓

CONTEMPLATING  HMMMMMM….!
⇓

GRINNING AND LAUGHING OUT LOUD!
⇓

You know how much I Love water and waterfalls.  My eyes were drawn to these waters and as they were, my feet followed.  The third image of the waterfalls I had to kneel down in the cold, wet mud but did I hesitate?  Absolutely not!!! And so I paid no heed to my wet knee and captured this delight that Angels did send.  My Heart became Light and my determination to rise above the mundane again fell into place.  Who said Life was easy?  Not me.  Yet with a Happy Heart and above all with Love, we all can overcome anything.

I continued my walk and arriving at this big hill, I just had to stop to take a picture and then text my sister to say, “I am now walking down this” …

YAHOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!
⇓

Finally I was able to get a decent shot of this hill, the hill that all who walk or run in this park know as the Mother Hill.  She is aptly named for this hill is huge and seems to go on forever, especially when going up. This image is not all of Mother Hill, oh no, yet this view shouted, “take me” and so I did.  I just about jogged down that hill, filled with such Gratitude that once again my Heart was Happy.

I walked with a spring now in my step, my breath under control, my lungs filling deeply and evenly.  As I neared a place that always tells me, “Another two miles and you will be finished“, the Angels guided my eyes to this incredible visible growth of roots.

While taking this image, I heard, “Unless you get to the root of any problem, that problem will still exist.”  Ahhhh, yes, yes, understanding came in spades, yet I honestly did not have the solution to the root of the problem that occurred that very morning.  Time to put my Faith shoes on for the solution to come, so I can address the roots by changing the problem to, “Hey, it’s fixed.”

Nearing my destination to the one last mile mark my legs still feeling strong, my eyes saw white.  White?  Ah, the park rangers were setting up santas but how strange because they have not done that before, not on this side of the park.  As I neared this white, my mouth flew wide open and my eyes filled with tears, for what I saw was the last thing I ever did expect to see on a gray and dismal, with heavy lead laden clouds, damp and dreary day.  Am I dreaming?  But no, no!!!  The Angels put the icing on the cake to make sure my smile was back by sending a bride and a groom whose smiles and JOY lit up the entire park.  The closer I got the more I felt that blast of Love, of JOY.  Did I ever get choked up!

I could not help myself.  I asked if I could take some pictures, and I was warmly greeted and encouraged to step in close to take a few snaps.  And wouldn’t you know it, my phone decided to have a spaz attack and act up as I struggled to get a perfect picture of this glowing couple.  GROAN!!!  I felt so shy, and I did not wish to intrude, and here I am struggling to get a good shot.  I took several shots yet all but the one below came in pretty clear.  If this was not a sign that LOVE again was ruling my Heart, I don’t know what was.  (And yes I do have this couples’ permission to post this image.)

Before I could stop my mouth, my Heart said to this young man, “Love your wife with all you’ve got, hold her close to your Heart, and know that with LOVE anything can be overcome.”  Isn’t this young woman about the most radiant bride you have ever seen?

Take a good look at this last picture.  Notice how drab and deary, and downright ugly the surroundings are that comprise the environment of this couple.  Yet despite these circumstances, the glow of Love was so powerful all present could feel it. Do you honestly think these two young people even saw the ugly surroundings?  I doubt it.  All they saw were each other!  And mind you, it was really cold out too!

The Message here, my friends, is, when you focus on Love even in dark situations, that Love will take the lead, shining with such force that the darkness around you will not even be noticed.  What a powerful display of what Love is capable of!!

I leave you with these thoughts.  Everything works together.  Now, if I had gone on my walk at my usual time, I would have missed this bride and groom and I would not have this glowing couple to show you.  Think about that! (smiling)

And oh … I certainly found sunshine, wouldn’t you say?

Photography/ “Sunshine On A Gray Day” 2015©AmyRose@www.herladypinkrose.wordpress.com

Images taken with my Samsung Galaxy S6 Phone at Chestnut Ridge County Park.