I took the loop down to the beach and back through the woods via the boardwalk at Laudholm Farm yesterday. The overgrown fields on the hilltop above the farm buildings are full of roses…both the common wild New England pink rose (probably Virginia Rose) and the invasive Asian Multiflora Rose with its delicate white blossoms and overpoweringly sweet smell. The wild roses were buried well down in the tall grasses, but were no less beautiful for it.

I shot this with the ZEISS Touit 12mm f2.8 wide angle lens.  One of the things I like about the lens is the ability to get in close and frame something like this rose in its habitat. The depth of the wide angle, combined with the amazingly crisp image quality, produces a unique rendering of the scene.

Sony NEX 5T in Superior Auto. ISO 100 @ 1/125th @ f13. Processed in Snapseed on my tablet.

And for the Sunday Thought. I had an interesting week, starting on Monday with a heart catheter test which showed that I had indeed had a heart attack, probably back in April, which left an artery blocked and significant damage to the heart muscle. That was followed by what was probably just a panic attack, some chest and upper arm pain and shortness of breath which inspired me to call 911. I was in the hospital for two days, and they did a treadmill stress test and echocardiogram to make sure that the heart is still functioning up to its ability. It is. I have a whole pharmacy of new medications to adapt to, and lots of follow-up, which I am sure will include diet and exercise, to look forward to.

And that last phrase is the key: to look forward to. It could have been different. I could easily have died, apparently almost did die, in April. And, during my episode this week, even if it only was panic, I had to seriously consider the possibility, as they loaded me into the Kennebunk Rescue Ambulance, that I might be living my last day. And it was okay. I am by no means “ready to go.” There are still a lot of roses, life birds, sunsets, and other wonders left to see, to enjoy, and to celebrate. There are people, I think, who would miss me. There might even be yet some good I am meant to do.  But I live by the will, by the grace, of a loving God, who has promised in Christ to bring me to the last day, whole and upright, completed and complete. And I found, somewhat to my own surprise, that that faith is sufficient, even in the face of death. To live is Christ. To die is Christ. And I am good with that.

One of my Facebook friends commented that I was one of the people she hoped would hang around this planet longer. I thought of replying: “I don’t know. If they offered me posting to another planet, I might just have to take it. Think of all the new lifers…birds, flowers, landscapes. Think of the wonder.”

And I do think of the wonder. Many people find a renewed purpose in their lives after a heart attack. For me, I intend to go on as I have started…finding and celebrating the beauty in this world, on this planet, that is living testimony to the love of a creator God. I have a lot to look forward to, and I intend to spend every day looking for it! I am not sure what it is, but, as always, I expect to know it when I see it.

Even if it is only a wild rose among the tall grasses. Happy Sunday!