The Winds and The Sea

Little Talbot State Park - Jacksonville, Fl

By the time we were on our way out of Florida, I had suffered 2 concussions, a broken toe, a sprained ankle, and then finally a dog attack that caused my arm to swell to the size of my calf. We were truly tired after almost a year of travel. We spent these days in Florida walking for miles, collecting shells, spotting dolphins, and chasing seagulls. I spent hours trying to capture the essence of the beach and asking myself, "What does this say about God?" How is God revealed here? Unable to count the grains of sand I thought of the infinity of God. When I watched the seagulls and the broken seashells that had fed them, I thought, "God turns brokenness into provision." Everything had a purpose on the beach. I thought about the fact that the one thing not mentioned in the list of created things, was water. Water was in the beginning. I dwelt for a long time on the meaning of this. Jesus is called The Living Water, we are born from water, our bodies are 60% water. We are baptized in water. At the end of the trip I was most captivated by two things. Water and light. The two most essential things to our existence. The two things that Jesus is called. Living water and The Light.

"Why are you afraid, you who have little faith?" Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. The men were amazed. "What kind of man is this?" they asked. "Even the winds and the sea obey him!" Matt. 8:25-27

ClingmansDomeatSunset

ColoradoCaliforniaVA

Solitude

Cades Cove, Smokey Mountain National Park

I am seriously in love with Cades Cove. I linger in this place every single chance I get it. Once I was sitting in a cove of trees and three deer walked near to me. They were cautious in their approach but then one came close to me. I could almost reach out and touch him. I was afraid to move an inch as I didn’t want to startle him. The gentleness of their movement captivated me. I slowly raise my camera and captured one image. I then clicked the shutter two more times and they were gone. The peace in this picture soothes my soul. It hangs in my office at home. When I need to escape the noise of every day living I look up. I enter into this quiet place of rest. The places that we traveled to had different things to offer us. The ocean displayed the power and might, the desert gave us an idea of infinity, but the woods? They provided sanctuary. They provided peace and solitude and a type of stillness that washed over me and left me pure. It was in stillness that I came to worship.

“Be still and know that I am God”. Psalm 46:10

campingfallfoliagehikingleavesmountainsnatureoutdoorssmokeytennesseetreeswaterwaterfalls

Provision #38

Farmers Pasture - Mason City, Iowa
The curious calf had pursued me throughout the pasture as I tried to steer clear of its mother and the bull. Finally, I gave in and focused on him. Once the camera is up to my eye however, I lose the ability to be aware of my surroundings. I kept getting closer and closer and so did he. Until I looked up and saw the bull also coming closer, as was the mother. One step more and well...the chase was on. I ran like the wind (I thought) and did not look back until I had scrambled through the barbwire fence that was held open for me by my sister. When I looked back, the had lost interest about 400 yards earlier and had gone back to eating.
I loved this little calf. He was so curious and brave. I also mourned for him, because I knew he was #38. He'd been tagged. He was one day going to be our food. I went vegetarian for awhile after this shoot. But steak called my name and I answered. Yet, this little one has stayed with me and I smile everytime I look at his image. I smile and remember his sweetness and laugh remembering that I ran. Once again.

"Therefore I tell you, don't worry about your life, what you will eat; or about the body; what you will wear. For life is more than food and the body more than clothing." Luke 12:22-23

CowStudyIowacowshorseskentucky