Perspectives

It's been years since I've written in this space! I've walked through valleys grey and bleak even while celebrating joy in the midst of trials, giving  birth to its expression  through my photographs. These have kept me connected to our Creator, celebrating the gifts He places before us each and every day anew.

I have not been able to write though...no blogs, no cards, no year end wrap up letters...

The thoughts were there, the words just would not come...

This morning in my devotional, a few lines really caught my attention, and sort of  'sat me at my keyboard'.

My devotional told the story of a lady who enjoyed the quiet moments of the morning to read and pray before the bustle of the day started. So as usual she got up and went to her special chair only to be confronted with a mess, which distracted and frustrated her. She paused, then moved to another seat which afforded her a view of the sun rising over the Atlantic Ocean. The beauty of the scene that God painted completely changed her perspective.

Discussing this with her husband they were encouraged by the lesson learnt : We can't always control the things that impact our day, but we do have choices. We can brood over the mess or choose to change our perspective.

Celebrate the liberating power in that!

This devotional got me thinking about a series of photographs I had taken a long time ago, and had resonated deeply with me.

Perspective!

From stories of police brutality to world events, from children's tattling tales, to our own life stories,  our loves, joys, struggles, our sorrows and dreams. These need to be validated and not held as suspect or untruths. We can then build and shape them by adding dimensions and 'different points of view' .We can find better and at times clearer understandings.

My husband and I love to go on country drives and on one of these trips I spied a favorite subject to capture with my camera:  a beautiful barn in the middle of a field (marred a wee bit by a modern motor home parked in back)




Driving closer we took note of  the old homestead  - a real treasure  - with 2 cute little sheds:

I zoomed out to get it all , the beautiful house, 2 little sheds , a fuel tank, some open space and that amazing barn, and happily no motor home to be seen at this angle:

I wanted another view of this gorgeous place:  to enjoy the front of the barn, and look how tightly fit all the buildings are! But now there are 3, yes 3!! little sheds by the house, and where is all that open space? (and the motor home shows up again, but on the far right )

Finally one more shot a bit more down the road and looking back..Voila..no little sheds, no motor home, and the gate on this side of the  barn now looks open! What a terrific barn.

Had 5 people told you what was there based on what they saw, from their viewpoint, the stories would have reflected substantially different truths! They would likely be quite certain of what they saw! Their perspective.

Amazing!

My life story seen from my eyes, might be the truth for me, but felt and perceived so differently by any one of my siblings, or any of the people with whom I've be blessed to encounter.

Listen and believe those whom you talk too, your children, spouse, fellow believers, and just anyone who crosses your path. They tell of their truths. Then building on shared trust you might be able to come up with a changed perspective and have  renewed focus!

I might be sincere, yet I might also be sincerely wrong and need a new perspective. Perspective is understanding something from a larger frame of reference. Because we do not think like God, and do not have his perspective, we do not know what God has planned. Most often in hindsight we understand what's happening in our personal life. We must trust Him and in the meantime weigh what is happening and it's possible outcomes. I'm so thankful for those God has placed in my life to help me on this journey and thankful God's viewpoint, His Word, does not change and is the anchor for my life!

Like a saying on a picture a friend bought for me: In the right light , at the right time, everything becomes extraordinary!

Now go back and just enjoy that unbelievable barn and old homestead...it is one of  my favorites in my collection!

Linda

Thankfulness

I am completely blown away by what I encounter through the eye of a camera lens. The plain become magnificent, the ordinary - extraordinary.
Why is that, when I can and have seen all the same things with the naked eye?
Perhaps the answer lies somewhere in the realm of patience.
I have to take time to "get it just right" and often that means looking again and again. Composition means the difference between a good or a great shot, likewise lighting, upclose details, or panoramic vision,warm photo's vs cool lighting conditions, the play of shadows etc...so much to think about while capturing the essence what lies beyond.
Patience is key!
Shooting animals and birds asks even more patience, and the realization that with quick motion comes a whole other ball game, and more often than not it's a hundred bad shots to gain two or three really nice ones. Add to this the shyness, or wariness of the intended target , and ones own ability to stand motionless, stifling sneezes (allergies this time of the year) the urge to want a washroom (enjoying too many coffee before picture taking), age (cramping feet from not moving) and ones begins to understand patience!
But so worth it! The picture captured above was great, as the buildings didn't move! The emotions at the time invoked by this picture are captured in the text. I just can't wait to see what lies ahead of us, the future promised to us in a new paradise. These old buildings, as so many I have seen really bring to mind the temporariness of life. Our time as sojourners. I wonder if I will have need of a camera in heaven..ok....it's just a thought!

Hello once again
I can't believe how quickly time flies.It was in February that I published my last post, which goes to show that I'm not really a good blogger I guess. When I last wrote the pussy willows had just burst forth, only to be plunged back into a winter that seemed never ending! More snow and more snow..it seemed as if we'd go from the hint of spring back to winter and by-pass the seasons as we know them. How thankful I am that God is in control! He who promises that as long as the earth endures the seasons will come to pass! Perhaps not as quickly or orderly as we like to think they should happen, but all in good time!

In the intervening weeks I have been busy, and have put together a wonderful photographic book, entitled "Wilderness Trails" which documents through a bit of journaling and some 260 photographs the wonderful gift of the world God created around us. From the animals on our acreage, birds, sunsets and skylines, and even a few timeless old buildings the book is filled with moments of irreplaceable joy.It makes for a great coffee table book, especially being able to share with guests the beauty of our own backyard. It seems though that the work is not done, as this May has given rise to an incredible bunch of new pictures I wish I had included in this edition..but perhaps a project for the future?

It seems I have so many ideas on the table..now only to be able to organize and put these projects together!! Funny thing, all those winter house bound months gave rise to reading and not the creative juices that seems to flow just when there is a multitude of yard work beckoning me.What a quandry...but at least there is no end in sight for plans, and plans keep as person busy and out of trouble :)

I have also been given the joy of listening to my husband learn how to play piano! What a grand undertaking at this time of his life. I really wasn't being sarcastic! I really enjoy listening to the childrens songs, as they bring me back to my childhood, and also to the the years I spent in the school aiding the special children. Thankful also that he dabbles in trying out favourite hymns, and other familiar pieces. I am really enjoying listening to the growth and changes as they happen. It is my wish that the song that lives in his heart will be realized through music."When peace like a river..."

The promise of Spring

Spring is really on its way :) Although the snow is falling gently, the emergence of these soft little buds convinces me that spring is on the way. While driving to church on Sunday morning, I thought I spotted these, but then decided- no its way too cold, but was curious enough to ask Ken to stop on the way home, and check it out. I was thrilled, to say the least. Ken parked the van, I jumped out, then up and down like an excited kid :) The nice branches were too far from the road in deep snow (at least deeper than my sunday shoes allowed), so I had to settle for some smaller ones closer to the ditch to pick and display in my house. The turning of the seasons always brings to mind the faithfullness of our Father, and draws me into a peaceful spot in my heart. Even though creation groans, and we spoil much of it, God in His grace continually grants renewal! Today we woke up to -30ish and winter seems to grip us anew, but I just look at my pussy willows and know a warmer , sunshiny day is just around the corner

Mystical - Enticing - All-Embracing

This week we buried a neighbor,a friend of ours. With mixed emotions we attended his funeral. One never knows what to expect, with those who are not of the family of faith . Our neighbor was a practising Bahai follower. This means he believed firmly in 'God' however that being said the tenants of his belief say that Jesus is only an important prophet, relegated to a standing along side Abraham, Moses, Mohammed, Allah, Buddah, Ghandi...all who are seen to have imparted wisdom..in reality Bahai is a mishmash of all kinds of beliefs rolled into a gentle expression of inclusion for all, a oneness with nature and mankind. The funeral was full of quotes from the venerable leader- Bahaulla - a self appointed holy one, who, he says,has been given sayings directly from God, which he transcribed in such great numbers, and at such a rate his secretaries reportedly could not keep up with him, so that they ended up scribbling, and he would have to retranslate those scribbles.He is born in the early 1800's - an interesting website article to read at :http://www.bahaullah.org/
Jesus said: " I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well" (John 14:6-7).
Peter teaches us:"Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:12).
So I ponder on faith that does not need the blood of Jesus to wash us clean, funeral words in which God's grace is never mentioned, and a need for repentance never seen.
I feel my own guilt in this too. How many times did God not allow me moments to witness to him? Sure I spoke of God , His creation, His glory, and my faith in Him. But I did not talk heart to heart about a desperate need to SEE Jesus, as God's SON, co-equal, co-eternal. The ONLY way to the Father.I did not talk about the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit.
So when someone talks to you about believing in God...there is more than meets the eye....

"No matter what religious path a person has been on, Christ can rescue them from it and set them on his own path. He is the only Son of God who provided the only atoning sacrifice that everyone needs. He is the unique channel of God’s grace and salvation. This is what Jesus himself taught as true. Jesus is exclusive and inclusive at the same time—the narrow way and the Savior of the entire world—the only way of salvation, yet available for all." Joseph Tkach