Frozen

For three seasons, the water flourishes with an abundance of life. I watch as the wind repeatedly, artistically creates it’s one of a kind, once in a lifetime design on its liquid canvas. This remarkable, eye catching vision is beyond inspiring. The creatures underneath have perfected their unique gymnastic routines. Fish breakthrough the artistic waves doing flips, cartwheels, and somersaults. Humans mimicking the movements of the pond dwellers. In and out, repeatedly as they enjoy the passing of time. The sounds of happiness bellows in your ears, as all creatures above and beneath mutually exist without a care in the world. Life is living in the living waters. But as seasons change, things don’t remain the same.

Out my window, the stillness of a frozen pond is a most magnificent focal point. Unlike others, this has become one of my favorite seasons. Not necessarily for the climate, but for what the climate does to the atmosphere. The same water that was once filled with an abundance of life and carefree living, now appears to be abandoned, lifeless even, to the untrained eye. But with a trained eye, I’ve been attentive for quite some time now. In my attentiveness, I’ve come to learn that if you watch at just the right time, you’ll catch one of the most beautiful breathtaking events one could ever see. If you look at just the right time, you’ll see the wind elegantly dance with the water as the dropping temperature becomes the photographer that captures this marvelous moment in time. Shelf Ice. The moment when time stands still. The magical perfection when pause is pressed at the exact moment of intention. The moment of transformation. The wind and water merge into to the ultimate effect.

Waves frozen as if someone forgot to yell, “Green light”. Yet even in the stillness of a frozen pond, life continues to live underneath. But at what level? Is the frozen merely surface? How far does the frozen reach?

Life continues to live underneath. Yet, even in the appearance of being trapped, somehow life underneath continues to live without lack. Life continues to live underneath, despite what happens above. Life continues to live above, as creatures find new ways of nourishment. Life continues as those above fine new sources of entertainment. Life above adapts new ways of living. Even in the appearance of being limited, nothing above is stunted. Growth abounds.

Seeing and perceiving this phenomenon makes one question a few things. First, do those that live beneath and those that live above miss their mutual interactions? Do the above and the beneath reminisce about the shared good times, while anticipating a joyful reunion? Or, is the isolation a much needed period of relief?

Further, does a lifeless, frozen state equate death? Is this phenomenon truly beauty or a tragedy? Life continues to live underneath, just without the visual acrobatics. Life continues to live above, just without the merging of the two worlds.

While pondering a plethora of perplexities, my reflections brought me to one undeniable resolve. Changes are going to come. Permissions are not needed, nor are they asked for. But even in the moments when change brings stillness, life continues to happen. The only constant that I perceive to go unchanged, is the need for patience. For in due time, what once was, will be once again. The seasons have reset. Life has refreshed. Permitting all that is underneath to inevitably mingle with all that is above. As the sounds of happiness bellows in listening ears. At last, the wind finds its partner in the water to dance and create once more.