Yesterday I went for a walk around Drum Castle and the Drum Estate. The ground was squeclchy and it was more about leg stretching and aerobics than leisurely reverie. I took some photos, none of which will win any competitions. But a couple of them might be worth a second thought.
The tree on the left is entirely covered in grey-green lichen, one of my favourite natural colours. Close up it resembles ancient sea coral, and has some of the most intricate and delicate patterns of living filigree.
Here's what I mean. You could be looking down on a coral reef, or a forest. The subtle play of light and shadow on tones and colours that vary almost imperceptibly, make these fragile outgrowths master works of nature's art.
Then we came on this. The aftermath of the recent gales, with trees fallen, some snapped mid trunk and evidence all around of that other side of nature's power. Even trees are fragile in winds up to 100mph.
Rather easy to moralise and do a wee homily on the power of nature and the transience of life, and the fragility of beauty extravagantly displayed in grey-green complexity, and how the providence of God pervades and invades our world. Actually, I just enjoyed the walk, contemplated the lichen, and scrambled through the arboreal debris wondering how many wrens would build a high rise nest in the huge uprooted root systems. As for God - I guess God was in the mighty wind that breaks trees, and in the long slow persistence of lichen, pushing towards air and light for life. Instead of quoting Job, I recall a non canonical writer who sang, "Ah think to ma'self, what a wonderful world".
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