The gaps are the thing. The gaps are the spirit’s one home, the altitudes and latitudes so dazzlingly spare and clean that the spirit can discover itself like a once-blind man unbound. The gaps are the clefts in the rock where you cower to see the back parts of God; they are fissures between mountains and cells the wind lances through, the icy narrowing fiords splitting the cliffs of mystery. Go up into the gaps. If you can find them; they shift and vanish too. Stalk the gaps. Squeak into a gap in the soil, turn, and unlock–more than a maple–universe.
~ Annie Dillard
(The Little Zen Companion)
What stunning images; the Lake in the Mountains, and the image the words portray. Now I really feel like heading to the mountains, to “see” what I can find. 🙂
I’m very curious about your Mount Warning, Joanne – would that be a mountain you’ve climbed or would like to explore? When I was a teen my family and I used to hike across the mountains surrounding Athens, Greece. Always was a magical experience…
Hi,
What a lovely picture, it is really stunning, the front to the picture looks like a photo, and the mountains in the background looks like a painting, very striking.
It’s amazing, Mags, the things artists can capture with their perceptions and paintbrushes. I want to hop into a canoe and paddle across the lake and contemplate those majestic mountains…
I like the two boats you can barely see, ready by the shoreline – like an invitation.
Definitely an invitation! Maybe the artist came over in one of those boats just so he could paint the mountains from this side of the lake. 🙂
The painting is stunning and the words very profound. Something to think about.
Indeed, the mysteries of the universe, shifting, vanishing, and appearing again… It seems like each mountain has some spiritual gift to share with us…
Good morning Barbara. The lake in this painting feels so familiar. There is a sense of knowing this place even thought I’m quite sure it isn’t so. The thoughts and this image strike a cord this morning. Wishing you a lovely day!
Kryzhitsky is a Ukrainian painter so I’d like to think these are the Carpathian Mountains, which run through the part of Ukraine where my paternal ancestors originated. So happy this scene and Annie’s thoughts resonated with you, Colleen! May you have a lovely day as well!
That’s a beautiful painting, Barbara, but boy do I wish I could write like Annie Dillard. Thank you for combining them in this post.
Thanks, Charles – Annie Dillard is an amazing nature writer – to be passionately in love with nature and spirit and to have an extraordinary way with words is a rare gift.
Love the way the artist painted the reflected light on the water.
I’ve read the quote several times and I agree with Charles: I also wish I could write like Annie Dillard.
I really like your new theme – clean and bright. Lovely.
Thanks, Rosie! I think the new theme is probably a keeper, although I’ve been known to say that before. 😉
That makes three of us who wish we could write like Annie Dillard! I’m in awe of artists, too, who can capture the variations of light so well in their paintings…
I do love Annie Dillard. I’ve read “Teaching a Stone to Talk” a few times. Her idea of gaps is neat to think about. Gaps in the landscape create our landscape… Jane
Gaps also make me think of the mysterious world of quantum physics and quantum healing… The gaps between thoughts… I haven’t read “Teaching a Stone to Talk” yet – will have to get it on my Kindle – thanks for mentioning it…
Stalk the gaps! Yes! Always stalking the gaps, except when I forget. Lovely, Barbara.
Yes! Yes! The gaps are worth searching for and a wonder to find, even if we forget to from time to time… Thank you, Kathy!
This is amazing Barbara. The picture is perfect for the message. If you can find the gaps they shift and vanish too. wow. Identify the gaps – build up a strategy to bridge the gaps and lo! We will be close to perfection. 🙂 Thank you so much!!
You’re welcome, Sonali! How true, in order to bridge the gaps we do well to keep our eyes on them as they shift and appear to vanish, luring us ever to closer to perfection. Thanks for visiting, Sonali… 🙂
Excellent, Barbara!
Thank you, Tracy!
Those mountains are so inviting in their unreachable-ness! I love this post and have tweeted and put on Facebook too. Another beautiful profound and thought-provoking post, Rae!
I’m so happy you enjoyed the painting and the quote, Diane! 🙂 Thanks for sharing them, too!