When the Fog Lifts

I awoke this morning to a dense fog surrounding Stepping Stones. I can see only a few feet beyond the fence dividing my property and the adjacent one. And even that short distance is obscured in mist and appears only as vague, ghostly shapes. Yet, I "know" that beyond that fence lies a world of enchantment consisting of a deep valley populated with a wide variety of plants and wildlife. On the other side of the damn that traverses the valley lies a lake named Enchanted Lake. I "know" these things exist because of past experiences at Stepping Stones without a fog.

But suppose I were seeing Stepping Stones and its vistas for the first time this morning. I would see a lovely piece of land forested by cedars, oaks, hickory and sweet gum trees and surrounded by a tall fence. I would see the edge of the hill upon which Stepping Stones is built; but what lies beyond the hill is shrouded in a thick fog. I would notice vague outlines of things beyond suggesting a reality beyond my immediate line of vision but revealing little as to its beautiful vistas that I know are there from having seen them before.

How often in my day to day experiences do I live in a dense fog and fail to perceive the possibilities that exist beyond my field of vision or my perception of experience? How often do I miss the opportunity to be creative in what I "see"?

And now as the sun arises higher in the sky, the fog begins to dissipate and I catch a glimpse of the other world that exists beyond the edge of my previous limited vantage point.

I want to experience life with the fog lifted from my perceptions. I want to delve into the richer realm of possibilities, mystery, and even playful fantasy. I want to live along the lines of these clichés: "Life is what we make it" or "What color is the sky in your world?"

And as I write this, I see in the distance a narrow opening in the fog revealing the dancing, rippling, glistening waters of the lake of Enchantment. But then the vision is once again covered in fog. But, for a brief moment, I experienced a world on the other side of the boundaries of my ordinary world whether created by either a fence or my own fog and experienced a world beyond. It matters not whether this "world beyond" is of reality or fantasy so long as I visit both worlds periodically; for therein lies the wonderful and awesome aspects of the human condition; the possibilities granted by our abilities of awareness and creativity.