The snow came earlier than expected, dotting the Ohio landscape with white. Colorful leaves were still visible on many trees as if fall was not quite ready to relinquish its seasonal grip. Still, the two seasons merged beautifully, the stark pristine white of winter against the fading embers of autumn. 

I had not planned a hike, but I found myself at Mambourg Park anyway to capture the synchrony of the two seasons. I dislike the cold weather, but the artist in me is always drawn to scenes that capture my imagination. I captured a few of these scenes with my phone camera and included these images, unedited, in this post. Pieces of these scenes will live in my spirit, likely to be reborn in paint or the written word.

This is how I choose to see and live my life—a harmony between diversity and rootedness that allows me to live in peace, despite whatever circumstances surround my life. In life and in art, needed changes must often emerge from what initially appears to be incompatible. Chaos precedes and frequently forces the answers to the difficult questions. In the greater rhythm and mystery of being, life works.