Time Stands Still
24th September 2015
Time stand still
24th September
The year has inexorably, but also inexplicably charged forward. At this time of year Spring seems distant, especially when viewing the world across the chill, colour bled, Autumn hills. Their bleached slopes stand like harbingers, looking towards the bleak and wind swept tops of an advancing winter.
Each season, it's marked, distinct character, is what makes each day a special experience. However, it is the shear pace of this change that I find disturbing. Their seems a perverse - indirectly proportional relationship between my increasing age and my understanding of the changing seasons. As each year passes time concentrates, spinning ever faster, marking an ever shorter year, accelerating until there is no time left.
The memories of my past are both full of good and bad times, and as time has elapsed I have gained a broader and more detailed understanding of my experiences. I recognise (many) of the times I erred, whilst also realising the very many (and more often) occasions I should have treasured more, due to their beauty and sublime, spiritual depth. This recognition, this wide perspective gained from the lofty tower of experience should make my world seem full of endless opportunities as I now have this 'Intel' that should direct and steer my course. A wisdom helping me avoid the mistakes of the past and head towards the 'enlarging' and fulfilling components of life. However, this lofty stance just reveals that the world is speeding around under my feet. Knowledge and understanding, the complexity of 'things' just seem to make distant horizons even closer. It is as if all this looking back has taken up the space to have time to look around in the present. Each moment and experience is so important, but like a homeopathic remedy, these experiences have become an essence, a dilution of the flower that had been in my grasp and too easily discarded years before.
I hold onto characteristics and features of a time of year, just like the arrival and departure of the swallows, as they are potent symbols of the changing year. These symbols are both the anchors and markers to the gravity of an accelerating cycle of seasons. Therefore I hold onto these symbols to fix my place against the avalanche of flowing time, whilst recognising, the 'now' is like a transient, light and fragile butterfly that had been resting in my palm.
I have looked back, but now need Time's relentless journey to pause, so I have a moment to look and absorb the 'now'.
"...Experience slips away
Summer's going fast, nights growing colder
Children growing up, old friends growing older
Freeze this moment a little bit longer
Make each sensation a little bit stronger
Experience slips away
Experience slips away...
The innocence slips away"
N. Peart
24th September
The year has inexorably, but also inexplicably charged forward. At this time of year Spring seems distant, especially when viewing the world across the chill, colour bled, Autumn hills. Their bleached slopes stand like harbingers, looking towards the bleak and wind swept tops of an advancing winter.
Each season, it's marked, distinct character, is what makes each day a special experience. However, it is the shear pace of this change that I find disturbing. Their seems a perverse - indirectly proportional relationship between my increasing age and my understanding of the changing seasons. As each year passes time concentrates, spinning ever faster, marking an ever shorter year, accelerating until there is no time left.
The memories of my past are both full of good and bad times, and as time has elapsed I have gained a broader and more detailed understanding of my experiences. I recognise (many) of the times I erred, whilst also realising the very many (and more often) occasions I should have treasured more, due to their beauty and sublime, spiritual depth. This recognition, this wide perspective gained from the lofty tower of experience should make my world seem full of endless opportunities as I now have this 'Intel' that should direct and steer my course. A wisdom helping me avoid the mistakes of the past and head towards the 'enlarging' and fulfilling components of life. However, this lofty stance just reveals that the world is speeding around under my feet. Knowledge and understanding, the complexity of 'things' just seem to make distant horizons even closer. It is as if all this looking back has taken up the space to have time to look around in the present. Each moment and experience is so important, but like a homeopathic remedy, these experiences have become an essence, a dilution of the flower that had been in my grasp and too easily discarded years before.
I hold onto characteristics and features of a time of year, just like the arrival and departure of the swallows, as they are potent symbols of the changing year. These symbols are both the anchors and markers to the gravity of an accelerating cycle of seasons. Therefore I hold onto these symbols to fix my place against the avalanche of flowing time, whilst recognising, the 'now' is like a transient, light and fragile butterfly that had been resting in my palm.
I have looked back, but now need Time's relentless journey to pause, so I have a moment to look and absorb the 'now'.
"...Experience slips away
Summer's going fast, nights growing colder
Children growing up, old friends growing older
Freeze this moment a little bit longer
Make each sensation a little bit stronger
Experience slips away
Experience slips away...
The innocence slips away"
N. Peart