Monday, November 07, 2011

Life. Defiant.


Growing in a hostile environment
Quebec City, QC, July 2011
About this photo: We're wrapping up our week-long exploration of the bricks and mortar theme today, and will be launching a new theme - drink up - tonight at precisely 7:00 Eastern (Standard). But I still wanted to get one last photo in. You can, too, by heading here.
Life has a funny way of popping up where you least expect it. Like in the middle of a desert, at the bottom of the deepest part of the ocean, and here, in the middle of a centuries-old wall designed to fend off invaders. I'm willing to bet that no one ever watered the mortar here, or came back every day and spoke to the wall in the distant hope that life would magically appear. Instead, it more or less happened on its own, for reasons that the average passer-by would never really understand.

But understanding isn't the same as appreciating - and you don't need to necessarily understand the minutae of science to appreciate the wonder of it all. And as I stand here on a hot summer day and stare at this flourishing life, I feel as if there's a reason for me to be in this spot. I guess every once in a while we all need to reflect on the small and the not-so-small miracles that govern our daily lives. I guess it's good for the soul.

Your turn: Have you seen an unexpected little miracle lately?

6 comments:

21 Wits said...

Thank you for this post this morning, and the lovely spot you shot the photo. It very much fits in with the pattern of my thoughts today. I always seem to really reflect on so many levels when returning home. Everything in life seems to boil down to this very thought...discovering life's sacredness in the midst of the humble and the ordinary leaves me breathless....exceptional post Carmi, I'm surely drinking it up too!

Little Nell said...

Great shot Carmi, and your’e absolutely right. Here in Lanzarote we’re constantly amazed at the way plant life shoots up fom volcanic remains out in the wild - why can’t I get it to do that in my garden?

Zee.Dani said...

this is a beautiful picture and wut u wrote is very true..some how gives me hope.. idunno why,its just does.

u write very well :)

young-eclectic-encounters said...

wonderful post- I spent today going through my photos today and came to the same conclusion- what a wonderful, beautiful and continously delightful world we live in if we only stop to look,
Johnina

Unknown said...

Here in the desert of Phoenix, one wonders how any vegetation exists with only 6 inches of annual rainfall! So, I hear you Carmi!

Jonas Ellison said...

Yeah, great point on life. Life doesn't need our approval or consent, it just is. It never ceases to amaze me how the more we try to control things, the more we lose control of them. Not sure if that has much to do with what you said here, but it made sense to me:) Thanks for the post.