I didn’t notice the bird when I first looked at this photo. It sort of blends in. When we got closer to the glacier, the captain pointed out dozens of seals laying on the chunks of ice in the water. They were hidden in plain sight.
As I reflect on being hidden, Colossians 3:3 comes to mind: “your life is hidden with Christ in God.” What does this mean? For me, it is captured by our Parrish theme: “think like Jesus, talk like Jesus, act like Jesus.”
This photo was taken a year ago on Antigua during our cruise in the Caribbean. What a difference a year makes! We had reservations for a cruise to Alaska this July. The cruise has already been canceled by the cruise line. It is difficult to imagine when the cruise industry will recover from this.
There is One who is the same, yesterday, today and tomorrow.
I remember this day very well (unlike many vacation days which become a blur with time). Our cruise ship arrived at port in St Thomas before we were up. We took a taxi from the Cruise ship port to the ferry port on the other side of the island. We then took the ferry over to Cruz Bay, on St. John Island. This is a photo overlooking Cruz Bay. Our travels were far from over as we had to take a taxi to the other side of St. John where we were planning to hike in the National Park. At the end of the day, we did the reverse- taxi/ferry/taxi. I think we spent a total of about five hours traveling back-and-forth and about three hours hiking. However, I can truthfully say that getting there (and back) was half the fun.
And so should our walk with God be!
We were in a relatively small boat down in the Virgin Islands when we saw this storm in the distance. It reached us a few minutes later, but fortunately, we didn’t get too wet.
I must confess, I have mixed feelings about rain and storms. I know that we need rain. Thousands of people die each year around the world due to drought. On the other hand, we’ve recently seen the effects of too much rain with flooding and crops being ruined. There are many things in my life with obvious issues involving too much, too little. Like work. Too busy and I feel overwhelmed. Not busy enough and I get bored. Or people. When I have no one to interact with, I feel lonely. In a large gathering, I sometimes feel the need to find a quiet space.
We often hear about moderation but the word I prefer to focus on is balance. Finding the “middle ground.” While there are plenty of things we can’t control (like the rain), there are plenty of other areas where God leads us to find the balance between enough and too much.
This is another photo taken on St John, USVI at the National Park. This is called the Salt Pond and if you look closely, you can see something white at the edge of the pond. This is salt which forms at the edges (and gives the pond it’s name). This happens because the pond is actually below sea level. So water from the sea gets in, but can not escape except by evaporation. When there are extended periods of time with no rain, the salt concentration get so high that the salt precipitates out. People actually come to this pond to collect salt and report that it “tastes good!” The red color is reportedly due to algae in the pond.
We are called to be salt, to provide “flavor” for the world. In our modern world, it is easy to overlook the value and importance of salt. I imagine the value of salt was more appreciated in New Testament times.
May we allow God to use us to provide “value” to those around us.
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 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 Saman tree (also known as the rain tree), is over 400 years old. It is not native to the Caribbean islands but was likely brought by the indigenous Caribs, probably from South America. Seeing a tree this old makes me think of all the people who have lived before us. And continue to live with us: “He is not God of the dead, but of the living.” Mark 12:27.
Photo taken at Romney Manor and Gardens (Caribelle Batik), St Kitts.
This photo is from a trail in the Virgin Islands National Park on St John. There so many amazing views looking out at the water. One of the things i liked about this view was seeing how clear the water is, yet at the same time so blue. So clear that some of the difference in appearance (when close to the water like this) is actually due to what is at the bottom- sand, vegetation, reef and so forth.
God’s love is that that in many ways. Present everywhere you look. Yet it may appear differently depending on the surrounding circumstances.
Signs Along the Way 