“How do you catch a cloud and pin it down?”–a famous line from a famous song asks (The Sound of Music). How do you capture a moment…is there a way to hold it in your hand forever? I find myself wishing that memory was more than remembrance of time gone by–of words formed to communicate an idea of what once was with someone who never shared that same experience, or felt that same weight of joy.

Time really is like “an ever-rolling stream that bears all its sons away; they fly forgotten as a dream dies at the opening day” (Isaac Watts, 1708). Yet, how precious memories are–what a gift it is to remember times of beauty, joy, happiness, richness–though they are often mixed with the bittersweetness of mortality. Surely joy itself is the greatest gift of all from God, our supremely happy God, Who gave us happy days to remember forever…and to remind us that in His presence is fullness of joy–joy undimmed and undiluted by sorrow.

And so, here are a few words with which I hope to capture the essence of a precious memory: time in a beautiful place with beloved friends.

Moments in time, filled with laughter and creation’s music;
Golden sunlight glinting on white foam,
Caught in the flash of a smile, the glow of bright faces.
Turquoise waves tumbling over red granite;
A tiny black seabird, riding the eddy and swirl of the sea-current;
Rough-hewn stone glowing softly in lavender light;
Silver pathways winding gently by sylvan coast;
Trees standing tall and whispering softly,
Like giant emerald sentinels guarding hidden treasures;
The sea–grey, green, blue, majestic, gentle, relentless;
The dark waves driving, dragging the dark shore;
Beauty seen, heard, touched…shared.
Dreams softly spoken within a friend’s embrace,
Kindred spirits gathering round, enveloping, rejoicing.
And to crown it all: a song on the starlit shore–
A song to praise the Giver of everything good and perfect.

All the photographs are my own, taken in Acadia National Park.