(Photos by Pat Ruppel) ~~~ Earlier today, as I was looking out my back window off the deck, I felt captured with beauty and a feeling of wonder. We live in a beautiful, 
amazing world. I took a picture but it can only display a piece of the expansive, panoramic view. As I sat with this feeling of wonder for a moment, I thought of some amazing things that have happened in my life and of things that have happened to others from what I’ve read and heard. So, sit back and enjoy a mini adventure with a few stories and a link to a news clip (please be patient listening to the advertisement on the video clip – it’s worth the wait).
Just yesterday, my husband told me about a video clip from ninemsn.com of a dolphin saving whales off the coast of New Zealand. This is an interview with Malcolm Smith who, along with others, participated in a rescue to save this pod of whales stranded and beaching themselves. A frequent visiting dolphin that they call Moko came to their aid and gently guided the whales out of distress and back into open waters. To their knowledge, there has never been a documented case where marine mammals have rescued other marine mammals like this.
A post I read in mid February called Lessons From The Geese by Rich Vosler tells another touching and beautiful story of how nature comes to the aid of humans. He was struggling asking for guidance and strength.
Just then, with eyes still closed, he heard the sound of geese off in a distance, as they were flying in the night. It reminded him of a story he had read of how geese will accompany other geese when they are no longer able to continue with the formation and stay with them on the ground either until they recover or die.
It comforted him to remember those who had been there for him in his time of need and was the answer he needed just at the right time for strength and encouragement. If you read his story in its entirety I’m sure you will feel the same way when I say…..
The world is magical, if we take the time to observe and plug in. It will show us signs and wonders, if we’re open to possibilities. In May of 2007, my father-in-law passed away. We had all come home for the memorial services and to be with my mother-in-law.
It was Sunday and Mother’s Day and we had another full day following the memorial service. It was early in the morning and I got up to spend some quiet time with Mom and share some Mother’s Day moments together.
All of a sudden, we heard a Canadian goose honking loudly and it sounded close. At first, we couldn’t tell where it was coming from as it wasn’t passing over. I walked outside listening to it’s insistent honking and looked up. It was walking back and forth across the peak of the roof calling to it’s mate. Mom was still in the house and I told her what was happening.
I looked up and said, “Dad, is that you?” Mom went to the back door and just as she did she saw the two geese flying off to their new destination. It touched her as she thought of her late husband and felt he was sending her a message that he loves her and is thinking of her on Mother’s Day.
Slade Roberson of Shift Your Spirits also talks about some of these symbols in a post back in January 2008 called The Keys to a Magical World View where he shares stories on talking to trees and asking a crow for advice. If we step out of the box and shed the beliefs we’ve heard throughout the years, we’ll begin to experience the mystical wonders of the world for ourselves.
And then, Vitor Bosshard of The Fractal Forest shares with us his feelings of wonder and magic as he watched the lunar eclipse back in mid February in a post called And Then The Moon Turned Red. I’m glad he was able to capture a picture of it as it was cloudy and overcast that evening where I live in Colorado. A full moon always mystifies me especially in the winter and reading Vitor’s experience of capturing the moment resonated with me and I found myself capturing a moment of my own.
One night, it had just snowed and the sky cleared. It was late and my husband and I were locking up and turning off lights to get ready for bed. With the house dark but illuminated by the full moon we decided to take in the beauty of the freshly, fallen snow as it glistened in the full light before we were off to bed.
As we looked out our back yard we noticed some activity going on and couldn’t quite make out what it was. As we stood there we finally realized we had elk in our backyard and they were taking part in engaging our horses in some play. We watched as one elk acted as if he was charging the corral at the horses and then pulled up and then our horses would react and run back. They did this running back and forth at each other for a few minutes before losing interest. We were warmed by that experience and the memory of it played in our thoughts as we drifted off to sleep that night.
Another interesting link on this same post by Vitor comes from a comment by Deb Estep sharing her experience viewing the Perseid Meteor Shower. I had never heard of this before and it sounded incredible. She said it was like a fireworks display with shooting stars appearing at a rate of 60 per hour. Can you imagine what that would look and feel like as she imparts what it felt like to her listening to the gentle sounds of the ocean waves and the sky sparkling in a heavenly show? It must have truly been a magical moment. Wow!!
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Pat,
Thanks for linking to Shift Your Spirits — I appreciate the show of support!
Hi Pat
Did you get my comment yesterday? I seem to be having terrible luck with blogger comments pages. yesterday, none of the blogger sites got my comments. So frustrating.
Anyway, I just wanted you to know I really loved this peiec. It was beautiful and inspiring.
Thank you
Kelly
Kelly – no I didn’t get your earlier comment but thank you for sending it again.
I’m glad you enjoyed the post and were inspired. You just made my day!
Hope you’ll stop by again and share. Maybe sit at my imaginery kitchen table and have a cup of coffee.
Slade – thank you for your comment and you’re most welcome for the link.
I’m happy to support you as I enjoy reading your posts and the messages you share.
Thank you for stopping by and hope you’ll visit again.
Thank you for those amazing examples. It’s so easily to fall asleep and forgot how amazing life is. Thank you for the wake up.
We DO live in an amazing world. What I find amazing right now is that I’m learning to appreciate this discovery and learning what it is to live in the moment and reading this moment feels so wonderful because I recognize the wonder!
btw – WHAT a Picture!
🙂
Can I sit in the imaginary kitchen too? With hot chocolate? 🙂
(yes. I did just invite myself. *sweet smile*)
JEMi – thank you for your comment and it sounds like you’re on a similar path as I in living in the present moment. It’s so refreshing to just be and enjoy. I sense that’s what you’re feeling too.
I’m happy you stopped by and, yes, you’re welcome to sit at my kitchen table – hot chocolate sounds good – come as often as you like. It’s a place of wonder and peace in our amazing world.
Sterling – thank you for stopping by and leaving a comment.
You’re right in that we always seem to need to be reminded of how amazing life is. Unless we’re conscious of the miracles going on around us we, get numb and find ourselves in the company of our autopilot thoughts. Looking out at the world from behind the eyeballs and taking in his beauty and breathing in the fresh air is a gift.
Hope you’ll stop by again and share with us your experiences and join us around the kitchen table.