Walking along this beach, it isn’t uncommon to look down and find a piece of fossilized coral. During the Devonian Age (359-416 million years ago), this land mass we now call Michigan was near the Equator and teaming with marine life. It’s a long time frame that seems impossible to wrap your head around. This freshwater sea was at one time saltwater ocean. As I picked up a small piece of this fossilized coral in my hand – suddenly this new species existing today made a small physical connection to something at least 350 million years old.
This little “rock” now on the shore of one of the largest freshwater lakes in the world, was once a living thing near the Equator so far away, traveled with the land mass, experienced the entire time of the dinosaurs, existed for millions of years under ice, and was set free again via a melting glacier. It’s quite an impressive journey through time to reach my eye, and now, perhaps an undignified place in my pocket.
Along the beach, I spy a spot that I begin to make a few photos at. Wearing calf-high boots, I am able to walk into the water a little bit for the perspective I am after. The ryhthm of the cooler October water along the shoreline moves in and out as if the lake is breathing. One giant rock tumbler. Now I am connected to the lake experiencing its timing, much more immediate and relateable. But I need to still keep watch for the occasional wave that will go over my boots.
The water here supposedly turns over every 22 years. All 3521 Trillion Liters of it flowing ultimately towards the Atlantic Ocean. I’ve been underwater near the Lake’s funnel down to a river – it’s quite the current! But right now I am just watching that wave timing as I snap a few more photos with my phone, slightly adjusting compositions.
Then an unexpected wave crashes over the nearby piece of driftwood I am working into my composition. I am now a bit wet. As I look down at my phone I recognize a very brief moment in time physically experienced, contrasted with much longer moments I can’t possibly imagine. It is humbling enough just to stand on the shore of a Great Lake let alone contemplate the geologic history beneath your feet.
Too much for my noggin to handle but I like to go there in my imagination, wondering what it was like. We can walk by so much because it is so small, let alone think about the cosmos. Wonder at times what people think when they see me stop and spend time looking at massive mound of busy little ants. And, I love it when I read where someone shares about their experience of their existence in this world.
I am often Ok with recognizing the limits of our comprehension. Some things are just too expansive. Too much history for a single brain, which is why we have books I guess, to save someone the trouble of starting from scratch. Haha.
Well, like I didn’t feel insignificant enough! ~grin~ The scale of this planet, much less the universe, is so overwhelming and changes every microsecond, like a living thing. Quite the composition and timing in this photo, Mark. Excellent work; phone cameras have come such a long way.
Well, if it is any consolation – it isn’t lonely down in that group of insignificance! 🙂
Thanks Earl. It is even an “obsolete” phone camera as an iPhone13 Pro Max. In this case, the water proofing rating was a plus – and I didn’t get a bunch of water spots on the lens. It’s one of those photos that you say – “huh, I’m amazed that came out half-way decent.” 🙂
Very much more than halfway decent! ?
Beautiful photo capturing and freezing a moment in time. When one thinks of time on the scale you discuss it, it is truly unfashionable and beyond human experience to try to understand. We are here for such a very short time on the grand scale.
And then to think this is but one little planet, in front of one star. I can admit without hesitation it is simply too much for my brain to handle.