Putting Yourself in the Way, and Letting Beauty Find You

Forgive me because this journal of my walk is going to ramble a bit today.  It seems appropriate because that is how the walking unfolded...a bit of a ramble.  In the end, I'm certain the day resolved in a much more compelling way than I imagined it would when I set my initial expectations.  The Universe is conspiring to do things like that for you.  All you have to really do is get out of the way and let it perform.

Pope Francis was in town again today, and I had become aware that he was speaking to a joint meeting with Congress in the Capitol Building.  It's been quite awhile since I really consumed the broadcast news (and my life is a whole lot better since I quit wasting my time with that nonsense, but that's a story for a different day), so I really didn't know what time the meeting was scheduled to occur.  I had a vague notion that it was scheduled for relatively early in the morning (from a Congressional perspective anytime before ten in the morning appears to be an early day, but that's also a story for a different day.

My suspicions were confirmed when I got to the intersection of East Capitol Street and 2nd.  I was greeted by an impressive array of law enforcement personnel in a variety of vehicles (off road "gators," pedestrians, Segways, cars, SUVs, motorcycles, and bicycles).

Washington, DC at the intersection of East Capitol and 2nd on the day of Pope Francis' address to Congress 2015

I was told to turn around and head back to 3rd Street and move either north or south from there.  I chose to head north, and when I ran into Massachusetts Avenue I headed back into the heart of the city.  This was the first time that I've walked this route, and although I probably should have known it was going to happen, I was nevertheless pleased when I came upon Union Station.  It's a wonderful building, and I decided right then and there that I'd have to make this a more routine destination or at least put it on my route ans a frequently exercised pass-by option. Since it was dark (the days still manage to get shorter) I decided I would not attempt any photos and instead headed back toward the Capitol Building where I was confronted, once again, by a whole passel of law enforcement officers and temporary barriers.

More Papal Protectors...this time with fences

It was getting to be about time to head back, so I did.

At lunch I decided to mosey back down to the same general vicinity of my morning ramble.  I'm happy to report that the Pope had moved on, and the security perimeters that had sent me off on my unplanned route in the morning were slowly shrinking back down to a more manageable level.  I even was able to snap a few photos of Union Station which Google was kind enough to stitch into a panoramic shot.  I don't quite know why it pleases me as much as it does, but I really do enjoy when that little piece of cloud magic happens.

Union Station

The weather was gorgeous, and I would not have even thought to pass by this spectacular vista had I not been "inconvenienced" earlier in the day.

When I got home things just kept getting better.  I passed over two bridges above College Creek and was able to see the sun setting and the moon rising over the Severn River.

The sun sets as the moon rises over the Severn River

A bit later I was able to watch the sun continue to set over College Creek from Fitch Bridge.

Sun setting behind College Creek from Fitch Bridge

And finally from Hill Bridge I captured the last glory of the day as it settled down low in the western horizon.

Final sunset behind Hubbard Hall over College Creek #nofilter

Given that my plans had been apparently thwarted from the very outset this morning, and my expectations had been put back up on a shelf, I was not entirely convinced that things would work out the way I'd anticipated.  As it turns out, I was right.  I could never have imagined the day turning into the kind of fantastic experienced that unfolded around me.

I've said a couple of times that one should put themselves in the way of beauty.  I was afforded the opportunity to re-think that approach a bit today, and I decided that the concept is correct but the words needed some editing.  I think the proper phrase should read something like, "Put yourself out there, and beauty will come to you and land in your way.

It was a fantastic day, and I'm reminded again that the Universe is constantly conspiring to work in my best interest...especially when I begin to think that it may have successfully thwart my plans and dash my hopeful expectations.  The Universe will always come through...I just have to be flexible enough to allow it sufficient space in my mind to work its magic.