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.
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.
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.”
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.
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).
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.
This photo was taken on Kiawah Island; this is where there used to be the Inn and small market. Now it looks looks somewhat desolate. What you see now is deceiving – there is no evidence of its past history. You also can not see that this part of the island is otherwise completely developed.
How much more complex the lives of those we encounter day to day.
This photo was taken at the northern end of the beach along Kiawah Island. Though I’ve been to Kiawah many times, I had never traveled this far up the beach. The beach has a very different look here, beyond the extent of the dunes.
Sometimes, God calls us to go beyond our comfort zone. Where we have never been. But God is there.
This photo was taken on Kiawah Island, near the northern end of the beach. I was surprised to see eagles because I couldn’t remember ever seeing them at Kiawah in the past. Plus, I was out biking and just happened to look over to the dune and see them standing there not too far away.
As I read about the distribution of bald eagles in the US, I was surprised to find out that they are year round residents of the Atlantic Coast. We recently returned from Alaska, another place the bald eagle resides year round. So I shouldn’t have been surprised (but I was) when I saw two on the beach near downtown Anchorage.
What makes for a surprise? The unexpected, of course but what separates the expected from the unexpected? We are surrounded by God’s gifts, how many do we take “for granted” and how many do we truly delight in?
This photo was taken not too long before sunset at New Smyrna Beach. I take a lot more sunrise pictures here – you don’t actually see the sun setting; the view is ENE. The sky caught my attention this evening with the moon and mix of colors in the clouds.
A wonderful reminder that God can not only be found in unexpected places but also at unexpected times.
Signs Along the Way 