Tag: fog

Posted in Life

What’s in the distance?

Posted on by William Douthwaite

How many times in life have you wished you could see farther down the path?

We plan out a day or a few weeks. Maybe a year on a good day.

But we really have little long range vision. The path is murky off in the distance. The mist is dense. Thick.

I can’t see what bends in the road are ahead. I can’t see where the road ends. I don’t know how long the trip will be. There might be a wall just ahead. Or a sinkhole. Maybe a river. Did the bridge washed out? Maybe there’s a herd of sheep on the road. Or another car will come out of nowhere right towards you on this one lane road.

Or maybe it will be a long, uneventful ride for a while.

You never know.

So what do you do?

You live today. You notice the stone fences. The fields. The ruts left by so many before you. Animals off to the side.

Sometimes the fog clears. You can see for miles ahead. And it looks great. Or you see the obstacles. Traffic. Who knows?

So you drive. You live. You’re grateful. You’re cautious. You’re hopeful. You’re __________ (fill in the blank).

You never know.

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

I feel like I’m in a cloud

Posted on by William Douthwaite

A thick fog held off daybreak for a few hours this morning. Car headlights revealed tiny droplets of water in the air. I love to look up at clouds in the sky. But now the cloud surrounded me.

My usual morning walk route looks different on a foggy day. I feel like a kid watching black and white TV. Colors have given way to nothing but grays. The street should be lined with houses, but I can only see the next one in front of me. A few cars suddenly emerge from the fog, as surprised to see me as I am them.

Limited visibility creates mystery. Is this the right street? Did I miss a turn? Do I know where I’m at? Who else is out here? Who’s watching me?

As I keep walking, I see the sun trying to break through, burn off the fog, and take over the day. It’s a lot easier to chase away the night. But I know the sun will win out. It always does.

Posted in weather

A foggy morning

Posted on by William Douthwaite

When I stepped out the door to walk the big dog, I had no idea I wouldn’t be able to see to the end of the street. We rarely get fog so this was a rare treat. I love walking in a predawn fog.

It’s disconcerting. Suddenly, the same houses and neighborhood look completely different. Have I been here before? I feel disoriented. Where am I? Where is my house? How will I get back home? Take a breath. Just keep turning left and you’ll be back at your house in no time.

It’s beautiful, but distressing. The clouds have descended and stolen the sunrise. They have hidden the horizon. How will we get them back? Take a breath. The fog never stays for long.

It’s confusing. Maybe my glasses are dirty. Wait. I don’t wear glasses. I’ll rub my eyes, and everything will clear up. Right?

Is it a fire? We had wild fires just a half a mile from our home. The smoke was dense when we evacuated. Thankfully, when the smoke cleared and we returned, our house was still there, unharmed.

It could be the darkness closing in. Yoda said, “The dark side clouds everything.” I don’t want to start down that dark path. I might never return. Maybe I should just turn around and go back in the house.

It could be a dream. I’ll wake up any minute and the Florida sun will still rule the sky. Everything will be bright and clear. If I can just open my eyes.