There are far better things ahead than we leave behind
I have absolutely no notion why being given ephemeral as a prompt should have me thinking of C S Lewis. Maybe my mind is back a little in Oxford and with the daughters I raised there on a diet of, amongst so many other wonderful books, his magical volumes. But this picture is about as ephemeral as it gets for me. Taken from the roadside in the early, early morning a week or so ago on the way to Grenoble you see the church at Polignac sitting in the clouds and you just know that the moment had to be captured because otherwise it would be lost. But as the great man said … there is better ahead. He, of course was a devout Christian and speaks of the Heaven awaiting him. For me that heaven is of our own making here in this life.
Just as a point of interest C S Lewis died as he lived, quietly and without fuss, on 22nd November 1963, his death (and that of Aldous Huxley the same day) eclipsed by the assassination of a THAT President Kennedy. I remember 23rd November 1990 when Roald Dahl died. A young pop singer died the same day. It was certainly tragic, she being only in her twenties, but the BBC devoted a full report to her and gave one of the outstanding writers of any time just a few cursory seconds. I was incensed into complaining. It is the only time I have ever logged a complaint with the BBC. Of course my complaint changed nothing but for me it should never be a barrier to a voice that it will not tangibly change anything. The irony is that 52 and nearly 25 years later the same would not happen on the occasion of either death. Because I think it fair to say that like so many great artists, both are more popular now than they ever were in their lifetimes, though famous both certainly were, when breathing. Life is an ephereral thing all round, I would say.
PS: Lewis wrote these words in a letter (since published in ‘Letters to An American Lady’) to an old lady whom he never met though they corresponded for a decade. Mary, as one is probably minded when frail and running out of steam, was speaking of the end of her own life. In fact, he wrote the words just five months before he himself died. Ephemeral indeed.
This is an incredible shot and perfect for the prompt. When I tried to enlarge it, it stopped half way and said there was a flaw. May have just been my computer, but might be worth checking as the photograph is well worth enlarging!! This is my favorite response to the prompt so far. –Judy
https://grieflessons.wordpress.com/2015/03/27/weekly-photo-challenge-ephemeral/
Judy, thank you so much for your wonderful compliment which is particulary proudly born given that you are clearly a gifted photographer having looked at your own entries. I have duly checked and the photo is working on my system. Hopefully it is just a glitch and will clear itself so that you can go ahead and enlarge the picture to see it properly 🙂
I thought it might just be my connection but thought it wouldn’t hurt to check just in case. Easier to find each others glitches than our own! Ha.
Most definitely Judy! And again … thank you 🙂
You learn something new everyday. I had no idea that Ephemeral actually meant what I thought it did!!
Well that’s good Cam, I’m relieved! … to me the definition of ephemeral was always actually one of those bubbles you blow out of a ring … literally there for a moment and then gone.
Gorgeous photo, and thoughtful writing. Enjoyed this post a lot.
Thank you Claudette … I so appreciate your kind comment 🙂
Beautiful shot.
Thank you tnkerr… For dropping by and being kind enough to comment 🙂
That picture is so beautiful, so special, what an atmosphere to it…!
Thankyou! It begged to be taken 🙂
What a beautiful capture. Thank you.
Thank you Albert …. it was truly just a moment in time and I was fortunate to grab it and be able to share – I’m glad you get pleasure from it 🙂
Beautiful words and stunning photography!
Thank you! 🙂
I’ve loved Huxley and Dahl since my college years… <3 speakin' of "éphèmère":“Seul l’éphémère dure.” – “Ephemerality alone lasts.”(Eugène Ionesco) – Ionesco had Romanian roots, like me… 🙂 if you have some spare time, of course:
https://myvirtualplayground.wordpress.com/2014/11/27/seul-lephemere-dure-ephemerality-alone-lasts-eugene-ionesco/
Yes, I rather think Huxley got the short straw in this piece … note to self to rectify that soon! Dahl is one of my all-time heroes … I lived very close to him in England – the museum is well worth visiting if you are ever there. I will be checking out Eugene Ionesco through your blog post and on this week. thank you for putting him on my radar 🙂
you’re welcome, F… <3 I do understand you for Dahl… 🙂 btw, Ionesco and Samuel Beckett are THE main representatives of the black comedy and gallows humour… théâtre de l'absurde, par définition et par excellence, dignes "héritiers" de Kafka…
* * *
P.S. speakin' of ahead and forward, wait and (you'll) see – asap… 😉
Well if he is in the same league as Beckett, I am won already … Beckett (and of course Kafka) is another idol 🙂
et voilà, jolie dame: <3
https://myvirtualplayground.wordpress.com/2015/03/31/lumiere-magique-parmi-les-nuages-de-notre-destin/
Lovely photo. We pass Polignac frequently when we visit Le Puy en Velay (our prefecture). An amazing place in itself if you ever have the time.
Thank you …. It would have been a crime not to stop and snap! We will certainly make the time to explore Le Puy before too long, I hope and to walk up to the fortress at Polignac …. Yours is a department full of treasures I think 🙂
We keep meaning to visit Polignac ourselves and there is a PR walk that takes it in – have to put it on our list!
We now have a spreadsheet – courtesy of La Petite Maison Bijoux 😉 – of local PR walks that we are working through.
Well done LPMB! The tourist office in Cantal have books that list all the PRs in the different paysages – there are 340 in total and I am ticking them off and recording the date we walked each in the books – a spreadsheet is much more impressive 🙂
I will surely love Ionesco then …. Beckett is another idol. And Kafka … My life would be the poorer without him 🙂