From The Innkeepers

July 2024 Blog
How We See Things

In thinking about a topic for this month’s blog, for some unknown reason, I began with a search through our digital photo files.  It is a 20 plus year history of our time here at the Inn.  Pat was the photographer for most of these pictures, but some were taken by guests who have stayed here over the years, and then shared them with us. Some of the photos made me smile, some made me cry, and some had me feeling awe.   This pictorial trip down memory lane made me think about the importance of the lenses through which we see the world.  As I gauged my reactions to each of these individual pictures it transported me back into those lived moments.  With some of the event photos, I felt again the sheer exhaustion of the amount of work it took to host the event.  It made me think back on the contributions of everyone who made it possible.  One event of our earlier years here at the Inn was a fundraiser called Quilts and Chocolate which never would have been possible without the Sisters in Stitches who boxed up numerous quilts from their collections to bring here to show the audience. The cookie baking ahead of time, and the setting up of the chocolate fountain, the transforming of the picnic pavilion into a little amphitheater for showing the quilts, took the efforts of many people, but the result was thousands of dollars raised for local charitable organizations. 

A second such event that was one of the most notable was the building of our labyrinth 12 years ago.  It took a rotating group of about 20 people over 3 days to make this possible.  As I viewed the historic photos which captured the event it became a gradual unfolding from barren soil to completion.  It looked so pristine then, no deer had eaten the plants, no pine needles had fallen over the labyrinth path, no weeds poked through the layers of landscape fabric and rubber mulch.  But no matter its current condition, its presence on the land still calls out to those who need some quiet contemplation time while walking its circuits.

Thirdly I viewed a few hundred pictures that showed the land in various seasons and how it had changed over the years.  The growth of trees, and the loss of trees through storms made me think about how the landscapes of our lives change over time.  The various birds that hang out here from eagles, owls, and hawks to the sandhill cranes, geese, and swans conjured up their songs and made me smile.  The maturation of the flowers and shrubs of our gardens made me keenly aware of how life can flourish if given a nurturing environment. 

As I reflected on these experiences the overwhelming choice for the most appropriate lens with which we can view the world and our place in it, is the lens of gratitude.  I am so grateful for all the people who have made the overarching quality of our lives here be one of fulfillment.  The lens of gratitude helps us to focus on the fact that our lives are not lived in isolation, and that we depend upon others for its fullness and completion.  So, to all of you who have been part of our journey, I bow and say thank you for all you have meant in the unfolding of our story.

With Gratitude,

Marcia, Pat, Sharon, and Ryan

Keepers of the Rustic Gate