“Heaven is a place called Phillips Preserve” in the Aug. 12 Sun Journal called to mind last year’s Face Time interview with Jacques d’Amboise, whose roots in Lewiston projected him to become the protege and confidante of the world-renowned choreographer, George Balanchine.
“One thing that’s been lost today is the idea of embracing silence and making time for contemplation and reflection, which is something you can still achieve in Maine …” d’Amvoise stated in reply to Mark Griffin’s question, “As a frequent visitor to Vacationland, what does Maine offer you that you can’t find in midtown Manhattan?”
Maine, the natural world, so much unspoiled by civilization, a place “for contemplation and reflection,” a place away from the chaos, speed and noise of the cement, aluminum and glass world which seems hell-bent.
d’Amboise did not say we had to bring that civilization to Maine, he said contemplation and reflection were possible here which has been lost in the world today. Maine allowing us to commune in the silence of our real world, nature, our home, to regain balance with ourselves in the spiritual sense. Yes, one could say God-created nature.
The call of loons on the morning lake, the splash of a moose in the reeds, the porcupine moving through the woods, the birds in the green trees unseen for the most part, the leaves of trees changing color.
d’Amboise said Maine has something lost in today’s world, “… silence and making time for contemplation and reflection …” This is the main world.
Tom Fallon, Rumford
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