Monthly Archives: May 2020

God in all things, Photography, Scenery

The New Normal

This is a photo I took a couple of weeks ago at the Sweet Arrow Park. It is still a relatively new park but has become a regular place for me to hike or run since it is so close to our home.

Forming good habits is difficult. (Breaking bad habits can be even more difficult.) Lots of people have formed new habits during this pandemic. “The new normal” is a phrase that is being used to describe many things that are different now like attending church online. Long walks/hikes. Regular quiet time for reflections.

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God in all things, Photography, Scenery, Travel

Contrast

There are so many amazing things to see in Yellowstone. This area was one of the most unbelievable. This is a hot spring in the West Thumb Geyser Basin. There were many, some much closer to the lake. One, the Fishing Cone, is actually within the lake. It is so named because the water in it is so hot that you could catch fish from the lake and cook it in the hot spring without moving your feet.

Photos can provide contrast in multiple ways: light/dark, sharp/blurry, a rainbow of colors. It’s not hard to imagine the heat and cold in this image. Life also provides us with strong contrasts: joy/sorrow, pain/pleasure, wisdom/confusion.

We are living in a time of great contrasts. God is present in all of it.

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God in all things, Photography, Scenery

Ordinary

I read a reflection a few days ago about being grateful for things that we tend to take for granted. It is said that sometimes you don’t appreciate something until it is gone. This photo is dramatic but the lack of color stands out.

I’m sure everyone is discovering “ordinary” things they miss now that they are gone. Maybe it’s hugs from family or friends. Maybe quiet time (if you are home schooling) or socializing (if you are home alone). Now is a good time to take notice of “ordinary” things and be thankful.

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God in all things, Photography, Scenery

Stepping Stones

This is another photo from Sugarcreek Preserve near Bellbrook. Many of the local parks have large stones serving as creek crossings rather than bridges. The stones certainly have a more “natural” appearance than a bridge would. On the other hand, a stone crossing is more likely to be impassable after a heavy rain (a common summertime occurrence around here).

When I see these crossings, I think about the amount of work that went into preparing them. And I appreciate the fact that I can cross the stream without walking in the water. In fact, those times when the stones are underwater make me even more aware of the privilege of having these crossings.

God does a pretty good job of providing us a way across the “streams” we encounter in life. Often we do not recognize the handiwork. And sometimes, we have to wait to cross.

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God in all things, Photography, Scenery, Travel

One Constant

This is a photo of the Yellowstone River after it has gone through the canyon. It looks dramatically different here as compared to the bottom of the canyon or feeding out of Yellowstone Lake.

As we go through our lives, it is likely that different people will see us differently. That doesn’t necessarily mean we have significantly changed; maybe our circumstances have. One thing is constant: how God sees us.

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God in all things, Photography, Scenery

Experience

I took this photo a couple of weeks ago at the bottom of the steps heading up from Sugar Creek. I’ve noticed that it is difficult to capture a change in elevation with a photo. These are very steep steps but you could almost convince yourself the path is actually flat by looking at the photo.

Some things must be experienced to be appreciated. Thankfully, each of us experiences God’s overwhelming love, though in different ways. Through family and friends. Through a vocation. Through God’s creation.

God is good, all the time. All the time, God is good.

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God in all things, Photography, Scenery, Travel

Preparing

I took this photo in Montana, minutes before the start of the Bozeman marathon. One thing I have learned about running marathons is that as a marathon approaches, life gets simpler. There are things I do to help prepare for the marathon and things I avoid doing.

And so it is in dealing with this pandemic. In some ways, life is simpler. There are things we are doing to stay well and things we avoid doing.

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