I’ve written before about my fascination with birds in flight. I often wonder what it would be like to fly (minus the airplane). I find myself envying the birds. However, if birds are capable of complex thought, they probably look at us and envy the fact that we can hop in a car and drive to the grocery store!
Better to be thankful for what we have than envious of what others have. Or as I hear on occasion, “compare and despair.”
Photo: Sunrise, St John’s, USVI
This is a photo from our recent trip to New Smyrna Beach. We had a couple of very nice sunny days … this was not one of those days. It was taken about 5 minutes after sunrise. Even though you can’t actually see the sun, it is easy to imagine where it is. In large part, this is because we have experienced so many sunrises in so many circumstances.
In a similar way, sometimes we see God clearly. Many other times, we must trust God is there based on our past experiences.
This was a photo taken of St Kitts and Nevis. The volcanic peak of Nevis can be seen covered by a cloud. This image brings to mind how God was encountered on the mountain in the Old Testament. And often in the midst of a cloud. How blessed are we that we can encounter God where ever we are!
This was another photo taken on our hike to Ram Head on St John Island. We saw more of these cacti, Turk’s Cap (Melocactus intortus), than I could count. We understand that we were about a week early to see them bloom. The flowers are supposedly edible. We talked to some other hikers who had been on the island for awhile and said the red “heads” had appeared in the past week.
This illustrates a common occurrence in life. We can be happy for that which we have and experience, or we can focus on/ long for that which is “missing” or out of our reach.
He put the fear of himself upon their hearts,
and showed them his mighty works,
That they might glory in the wonder of his deeds and praise his holy name.
Sirach 17:8-10
Photo: View from Galina Breeze, Jamaica
I was planning to use a different photo for this morning’s post. But when I went for a run along Lake Michigan this morning, I was struck by the beauty of the sunrise over the frozen water. And I saw God.
This photo was taken during our hike in the Virgin Island National Park, St John. At this time, I was trying to capture the pile of stones that marked the turn up the hill headed to Ram Head. As I look at the photo now, however, what I see is a strikingly blue path leading to a small island.
It makes me think of the “turns” in life that at the time, seemed to be leading me one way, but in hindsight actually led in a direction I did not expect. Or would necessarily have chosen.
