The Pause

Staying in the Moment

I was driving on a winding country road in morning light. I glanced to my right and noticed a three foot tall Great Blue Heron perched on a log that had fallen across a stream in the woods through sunlight filtering through the trees. He looked as if he was posing for a wildlife photo. Modern instinct told me to stop and snap a cell phone picture of this rare sight. I resisted.

The road was two narrow lanes with a speed limit of 30 M.P.H. I had been traveling at the speed limit when I spotted the bird. I glanced in my rearview mirror and saw no cars following me. I slowed down, then stopped in the middle of the travel lane. There were no cars anywhere. I had plenty of opportunity to take out my phone.

Instead, I took a deep breath, carefully took in the sight of the magnificent bird, said “wow,” to no one in particular, and drove on my way.

Sometimes I think we are too driven to capture life’s wondrous moments in photos which takes us away from truly enjoying the moments as they are presented to us.

Thank you for reading :)