Tag Archives: ocean

God in all things, Photography, Scenery, Travel

Change

We returned to Jamaica last week, the first time since 2019. Some things were the same, others very different. Sunrise the morning of this photo was really the only day we saw sunrise. Between cloudy days and the dust cloud from Africa, there wasn’t much to see most mornings. But this photo was certainly a familiar site.

The Ministry of Health has not given permission to have our usual clinics, but we were able to spend a couple of days doing children’s check ups. And another day getting the Wellness Center ready for clinics. ACE, the NGO we work with, has grown significantly and now owns a several hundred acre farm.

It is quite inspiring to see God’s hand at work.

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God in all things, Photography, Scenery, Travel

Coincidence?

‭I saw this bird at almost exactly the same spot that I saw two eagles along the beach at Kiawah last year. Coincidence? Probably not.

I’m guessing this is a heron (I don’t pretend to be very knowledgeable about birds). Not really sure what herons and eagles have in common, other than being birds that you can find on the Atlantic Coast.

Our minds seems to work like that, always looking for an association. And it’s natural to assume cause and effect when we do observe an association. Scriptures are full of references to a beautiful and complex world pointing to a Creator. The ultimate cause.

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God in all things, Photography, Scenery, Travel

Odd

Just back from another week at Kiawah Island. I took this picture during a bike ride on the beach. This possum caught my eye as I was biking along. He (or she) was just standing there as the waves kept coming in. It seemed quite odd.

I’m sure I do many things that seem odd to a casual observer. Run long distances for example. Often these can be chalked to everyone being different. But sometimes, we experience a strong calling that we know will make us stand out in a way that can feel odd. Follow that calling anyway.

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God in all things, Photography, Scenery, Travel

Changes

This is one of my favorite views – sunrise in Jamaica. I was at this spot every summer for over 10 years, but not since 2019 due to the pandemic. We are planning to return this summer, but things will definitely be different this year. Some things are back to the way they were before. Some are not likely to ever go back to the same.

One thing is certain. God is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow.

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God in all things, Photography, Scenery, Travel

Questions

We spent a week at the beach at the end of March. I enjoy running or walking along the beach and I try to always carry my phone with me because you never know when you will see something like this.

I was fascinated by the way these birds were lining up facing the wind. It makes me think “what do they know?” It certainly didn’t seem random; I saw other groups of this same bird doing the same thing. Instinct? What does “instinct” even mean?

I ask a lot of questions than I can find not find the answers for. And I think that is a good thing.

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God in all things, Photography, Scenery, Travel

Hidden

Kenai Fjords NP

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.”

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God in all things, Photography, Prayer, Scenery, Travel

Proper Perspective

Aialik Glacier

It was an odd experience approaching this glacier in Kenai Fjords National Park. You could hear all of this ice banging off of the bottom of the ship. We were fairly far from the glacier, so these were relatively small pieces of ice. We could see large chunks of ice breaking off the glacier and were told that they were the size of a bus!

It was hard to keep a perspective on sizes and distances in Alaska. The same thing happens in our lives: things “close” to us seem much larger (more important). How to keep things in proper perspective? Reflection. Humility. Prayer.

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God in all things, Photography, Prayer, Scenery, Travel

Finisterre

This photo is one of my favorites from Kiawah Island (and I’ve taken a lot of photos there). I think what I really like is that it suggests a story to be told. A story about someone riding to the end of the world.

On the Camino de Santiago, that place is Finisterre (from the Latin, meaning “end of the world”). There is tradition for pilgrims on the Camino to burn an article of clothing if they hike to Finisterre (about 90 km further after reaching Santiago). This symbolizes the transformation that occur along The Way. Pilgrimage is about seeking transformation by encountering God (burning clothes not required).

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God in all things, Photography, Scenery, Travel

Taking Flight

This photo was taken at Kiawah Island, during a morning bike ride on the beach. I saw these birds from a distance and assumed (hoped) they would take flight as I approached. For me, there is something mesmerizing about watching birds fly just above the water. I think it is in part because it seems so effortless.

There is something special about watching something (or someone) doing what they were created to do.

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