Tag Archives: ocean

reflection, Scenery

Salt of the World

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.

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reflection, Scenery

Cloudy Days

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.

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reflection, Scenery

Unexpected Path

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.

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reflection, Scenery

God’s Love

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.

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reflection, Scenery

Let the Sea Resound

Over the next view weeks, I’ll be sharing some of amazing views we experienced in the Caribbean last week. This one was on St Kitts looking toward the island of Nevis. The water on the left is the Atlantic Ocean; on the right is the Caribbean Sea.

Let the sea and what fills it resound, the world and those who dwell there. Let the rivers clap their hands, the mountains shout with them for joy. Psalms‬ ‭98:7-8‬

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reflection, Scenery

Savor the Gift

This photo of the sunset was taken shortly after we arrived at Mykonos on our 3 day cruise last year. We were happy to get there in time to see a spectacular sunset, but subsequently we were mildly disappointed that it was hard to do much exploring of the island once it got dark. Adding to our disappointment was knowing that people taking the same cruise closer to summer would have additional daylight.

So it was definitely a glass half full/half empty experience. Focus on what we were “missing out on“ or simply savor the gift of a beautiful sunset.

Often in life, it is tempting to wish that we had met someone sooner or tried something sooner or were even living in a different era. And yet, we can be certain that God does not make errors in where (and when) we are placed. Savor the gift.

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