Thought for the day, Saturday 4th March

A Light exists in Spring by Emily Dickinson

“A Light exists in Spring
Not present on the Year
At any other period —
When March is scarcely here

A Colour stands abroad
On Solitary Fields
That Science cannot overtake
But Human Nature feels.

It waits upon the Lawn,
It shows the furthest Tree
Upon the furthest Slope you know
It almost speaks to you.

Then as Horizons step
Or Noons report away
Without the Formula of sound
It passes and we stay —

A quality of loss
Affecting our Content
As Trade had suddenly encroached
Upon a Sacrament.”

Thought for the day, Friday 3rd March

“Don’t keep forever on the public road, going only where others have gone. Leave the beaten track occasionally and dive into the woods. You will be certain to find something you have never seen before. Of course it will be a little thing, but do not ignore it. One discovery will lead to another, and before you know it, you will have something worth thinking about to occupy your mind, and really big discoveries are the result of thought.”

Alexander Graham Bell, born on this day in 1847

Thought for the day, Wednesday 1st March

“Yellowstone National Park was established on this day in 1872. President Ulysses S. Grant set aside this remarkable enclave of natural wonders “for the enjoyment of the people.” In a century known for its rapacious exploitation of the environment, this declaration stands apart, a historic date in our relationship with the earth.

Yellowstone and other national treasures call out to us in their uniqueness, in their fragility as well as in their strength. As Alice Walker writes, “Anything we love can be saved.” Consider today what wonders of the world, large or small, summon love from you – and what can be done to preserve them. The more we care for the delicate marvels of the planet, the more we care for ourselves.”

Brian Nelson

Looking up at Yellowstone Natural Bridge, a 51 foot tall arch created by Bridge Creek eroding the rock.

Thought for the day, Tuesday 28th February

“An honest man, armed with all the knowledge available to us now, could only state that in some sense, the origin of life appears at the moment to be almost a miracle, so many are the conditions which would have had to have been satisfied to get it going.”

Francis Crick, who, together with James Watson, discovered the chemical structure of DNA on this day in 1953.

The NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope has revisited one of its most iconic and popular images: the Eagle Nebula’s Pillars of Creation. This image shows the pillars as seen in infrared light, allowing it to pierce through obscuring dust and gas and unveil a more unfamiliar — but just as amazing — view of the pillars. In this ethereal view the entire frame is peppered with bright stars and baby stars are revealed being formed within the pillars themselves. The ghostly outlines of the pillars seem much more delicate, and are silhouetted against an eerie blue haze. Hubble also captured the pillars in visible light.

Thought for the day, Monday 27th February

The Gift by Mary Oliver

“Be still, my soul, and steadfast.
Earth and heaven both are still watching
though time is draining from the clock
and your walk, that was confident and quick,
has become slow.

So, be slow if you must, but let
the heart still play its true part.
Love still as once you loved, deeply
and without patience. Let God and the world
know you are grateful.
That the gift has been given.”