I love the gulf in the winter. The beaches are mostly empty of people and the shore birds have free reign. It is a wonderful time and space for reflection and rejuvenation.

Soaring in circles on invisible thermals above a winter haven from the frozen north.

Along the Sand Creek Trail there is a spot where the creek runs clear and the creek bottom is rocky.  So unusual from the Kansas streams of my childhood memory.  Sunday was a day to sit and watch the stream flow over the rocks as it caught the weak, but warm, winter sun.

Being one of the first to arrive in the conference hall I have a chance to enjoy the architect’s creativity with the winter morning sun.

An abundance of lemmings in the arctic last summer allowed more snowy owls to survive.  Now that winter has a strong grasp up north, many of the birds have flown south in search of food.  There are just too many of them.  Thus, an opportunity to spend the afternoon observing this snowy owl east of Newton.  Big and beautiful birds. If only we had been closer . . .

Decay really is regeneration. For the forest to continue to flourish, decay is necessary. A return of nutrients from which to build new. So, today I am pondering our own decay and wondering if the nutrients from that process do the same for our own emotional and spiritual growth . . .