• About Me
  • Contact
  • What’s in a name?

dreamprayact

~ Reflections of a preacher, poet, and contemplative activist

dreamprayact

Tag Archives: Montana de Oro State Park

Cathedral of Earth, Sea, and Sky

30 Monday Nov 2015

Posted by mark lloyd richardson in Poems, Reflections

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

awe, communion with God, cosmology, God's creation, Montana de Oro State Park, mysticism, nature, panentheism, prayer, source of life, wonder

Spooners Cove Thanksgiving 2015

Montaña de Oro State Park, CA

All that we see,
all that we breathe,
all the places we walk or swim or fly,
all that is distant,
all that is near,
all that is empty,
all that is full,
all that comforts us with familiarity,
all that invites us into newness,
all that opens us to challenges,
all that surprises us with wonder,
all that humbles us in awe,
all things now living,
all ancestors, loved ones, friends,
all whom we hold in our remembrance,
all ancient trees,
all tundras, savannas and prairies,
all deserts, everglades and forests,
all morning brightened mountains,
all shimmering vibrant seas,
all cloud dotted skies,
all of these sing of one source,
all of these move to one timeless rhythm,
in all ways that matter.

(c) Mark Lloyd Richardson, Thanksgiving 2015

Taking Comfort

04 Friday May 2012

Posted by mark lloyd richardson in Poems

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

Central Coast of California, Montana de Oro State Park, mortality, new consciousness, Ocean, running

For ten years, I lived just five miles from Montana de Oro State Park along the central coast of California. I was able to run on the trails there two or three times a week. Now I live nearly an hour away, so I don’t get there nearly as often (especially with the price of gas)! But just a couple of days ago I met my son Ethan there for a quick run before he headed off to work. I was grateful to be with him, and to again be in that magnificent place. In addition to being beautiful, I find it humbling as well – in its vastness, it reminds me of my mortality!

Running at Montana de Oro State ParkHere’s a poem I wrote five years ago after a run by the ocean:

Taking Comfort

On the bluffs where I run
the beat of my heart drowns
in waves of sound and sight,
my body moving with the elements.

I am in love with the ocean.
It tells me I am small.
I take comfort in this truth.
In the battered sands of time I disappear.

While others seek fame and fortune,
I seek only to return to the waters
that stretch as far as the eye can see,
to be carried off into some distant sunset
where life on this troubled earth ends
and a new consciousness begins.

I am in love with the ocean.
This should come as no surprise.
The ocean tells me the truth…
that I am the one who will pass away.
I am the one whose life upon this glassy
blue and green sphere is transitory.

Words (c) 2007 Mark Lloyd Richardson
Photo (c) 2010 Dallis Day Richardson

Still I lie down

21 Wednesday Mar 2012

Posted by mark lloyd richardson in Poems

≈ 12 Comments

Tags

bluffs, bobcat, comfort, gratitude, light, Montana de Oro State Park, morning, Pacific Ocean, sorrows

Dallis and I followed up our annual eye appointments in Los Osos recently with a quick trip out to Montana de Oro State Park (about 5 miles from our eye doctor’s office) on the central coast of California. After hiking along a trail overlooking Spooner’s Cove, as we made our way back to our car, Dallis spotted this bobcat. While she snapped several great shots (this is my favorite), I fumbled around with my camera and got nothing!

However, I did write this poem, inspired in part by the environment we were in and in part by the look in this bobcat’s eyes!

I open my eyes to the morning,
To the sky bursting with light,
The massive ocean-seared rocks,

The rolling bluffs covered in scrub.
On this bright, enchanting day,
The earth spins in desperate want,

And I am awake to its sorrows.
Still I lie down in soft blades of comfort,
Grateful for all that is seen and unseen.

Words (c) 2012 Mark Lloyd Richardson
Photo (c) 2012 Dallis Day Richardson

These Mountains of Gold

19 Monday Mar 2012

Posted by mark lloyd richardson in Poems, Reflections

≈ 12 Comments

Tags

ancient sea, awe, deer, first day of spring, Montana de Oro State Park, poppies, sanctuary, snowy egret, spring, temple

There is a hidden jewel on the central coast of California called Montaña de Oro State Park. In English, it would be translated as Mountains of Gold State Park, and in the spring that is precisely the image that comes to mind as the poppies come into bloom and cover the bluffs in brilliant orange overlooking the Pacific Ocean. For ten years we lived just a few miles away from this gorgeous corner of earth, and I logged thousands of miles running the park trails. It became a kind of sanctuary for me.

In celebration of the first day of spring, here’s a poem I wrote about the unique beauty of these mountains of gold as I experienced them, accompanied by beautiful photos taken by  my wife Dallis! The poem was originally published in our area newspaper, The Tribune, in April, 2010.

These Mountains of Gold

If you stand here
and lean against the sky
you see a field of poppies
stretching toward a distant blue,
their golden petals outshining
even the morning sun.
In these mountains of gold,
black tailed deer graze in glory,
snowy egret stand in serene repose,
regaling you in their white gowns,
and choirs of chaparral
chant ancient anthems
rising from an ancient sea.
If you stand here
this place becomes a temple
and clothes even you in awe.

Words (c) 2012, Mark Lloyd Richardson
Photos (c) 2012, Dallis Day Richardson

January 2021
S M T W T F S
 12
3456789
10111213141516
17181920212223
24252627282930
31  
« Mar    

Recent Posts

  • The Feast You Spread Before Us
  • Will you welcome the little one?
  • Drawn into the Deep
  • Contemplation: A Long Loving Look at the Real
  • Spring is Still Coming

Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 535 other followers

Archives

  • March 2020
  • December 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • May 2019
  • February 2019
  • October 2018
  • August 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • February 2018
  • October 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • May 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • November 2014
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014
  • June 2014
  • May 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • January 2014
  • December 2013
  • November 2013
  • October 2013
  • September 2013
  • August 2013
  • July 2013
  • June 2013
  • May 2013
  • April 2013
  • March 2013
  • February 2013
  • January 2013
  • December 2012
  • November 2012
  • October 2012
  • September 2012
  • August 2012
  • July 2012
  • June 2012
  • May 2012
  • April 2012
  • March 2012
  • February 2012
  • January 2012

Categories

  • Centering Prayer
  • Contemplative Life
  • Dogs
  • Guest Blogs
  • Justice
  • LGBTQ
  • pastoral integrity
  • Peace with justice
  • Poems
  • Prayers
  • Reflections
  • Running
  • Sermon portions
  • Uncategorized
  • Worship Liturgy

Blog Stats

  • 40,999 hits

Meta

  • Register
  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.com

Sacred Pauses

aprilyamasaki.com

Blog at WordPress.com.

Cancel