This photo reminds me of a couple songs...one I sang in middle school choir called "The Water is Wide." And the other is an old hymn "It is Well with my Soul." I heard it played on the banjo station (Bluegrass?) the other night and liked the plucky rendition.
The words are beautiful and much more powerful knowing about the man who penned them. Horatio Spafford wrote the song while out at sea over the place where 4 of his children drowned in a ship sinking. The full story is here:
http://voices.yahoo.com/horatio-g-spafford-story-behind-hymn-is-1620793.html?cat=38
When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.
Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.
(refrain)
My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!
(refrain)
And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.
I hope and pray that whatever comes my way, I will be able to say the same...it is well with my soul.
This scene also reminds me of one of my favorite books, "Follow the River" by James Alexander Thom
http://www.amazon.com/Follow-River-JAMES-ALEXANDER-Thom/dp/0345338545. It is based on a true story of a pioneer village that was raided by Indians. Some of the inhabitants were taken away, including a young mother who was close to having a child and her two other children. It is the story of her capture, captivity and escape. An amazing tale of survival and determination. My sister described it by saying that reading it was like "crack" and I couldn't agree more.
This is the same scene that I shot recently in the fall:
http://365project.org/amandal/365-year-2/2013-09-15. It was a little safe to be standing on the bridge in the daylight. No near misses with cars this time.
Thanks so much, my friends. Really appreciate your lovely comments and faves for this peaceful river shot. I am feeling pretty frazzled and really could use more peace for my soul these days. Deep breaths.
@pflaume @dmdfday @jyokota Thank you so much, kind ladies!