Continuing our quest of historic sites and discovering the landscape of this part of the country, we made our way, once again, down into St. Mary’s County, Maryland.  It was a beautiful day and we drove to the southern point of the state.  During the Civil War, this was the Southernmost Northern point, and because it was completely surrounded by water, was used as a Northern prisoner of war encampment.

It was hard to imagine what life in a POW camp on this beautiful spot must have been like.  Little replicas and dioramas in the museum showed that they had cabin-like dwellings for the men and there was a large hospital and also a church.  Still, it was a prison camp.  Today it is a State Park.  Imagine camping today where thousands were held prisoner during the Civil War!

It made me think about, although we are certainly free, we are also sometimes victims of our own imprisonment.

I can’t tell you the number of times we share our outings with a local resident who exclaims “I’ve lived here all my life and I never knew that place existed.  Never been there.”  Truly, this is a form of self-inflicted imprisonment.

It takes a conscious effort to break the chains of imprisonment – but we CAN do it.  Think about the things that you have always wanted to do – but have never done.  Think about the places you have always wanted to go – but have never gone.  And, make plans to start slowly and close to home – and do some of them.

Annie Dillard wrote: “Beauty and grace are performed whether or not we will or sense them.  The least we can try to do is be there.”