I like to grow a few things that are different. Meet Loropetalum “Fire Dance” – a variety of Chinese witchhazel.
The first thing to hit you is the pungent pink of the small strappy petals. The second thing to hit you is the VERY pungent pink… They are not subtle, not at all. Flowering is steady, with the flowers standing out against the bronze/coppery leaves. There is a “light fragrance.” And they’re PINK.
I decided to describe it with words I might use to boast to other gardeners: Pink, Brash, Exotic, Unusual, Worth a Second Look, Spectacular. It seemed proper to match the print colour to the petals. Yep, it’s PINK. Almost magenta, not a pastel shade. It’s quite deliberately in your face. I’m very proud of its bold beauty.
Quite why I should feel proud is a mystery! I bought the shrub, and had no part in breeding its current form. I didn’t travel to the Chinese woodlands where they grow wild. I didn’t submit a blueprint to Mother Nature. I didn’t ask God to create me a special showy shrub so I can show off.
I just enjoy it.
I rather think God enjoys Loropetalum “Fire Dance” as well.
I don’t want to engage in ascerbic conversations about evolution or intelligent design. None of us were “there” in the Beginning. The “Book of Beginnings” is not a publication of the Royal Horticultural Society, nor a dry dusty scientific textbook.
In the Beginning… God spoke. Creation became to BE, and Life was called into Being. At various points in the narrative, God said “It is good.” In fact God said “It is VERY good.”
So that’s enough for me. And I’m rather thrilled that “Fire Dance” was included as part of the unfolding story of the Creator who sustains all things and is redeeming all things. Worth a second look, indeed.
Do you have a favourite “method” of approaching God?
As groups/churches, we do things together: we typically sing praise and worship, we pray, we study Scripture and listen to our pastors/teachers, and we use rituals/symbolic actions like baptism and Communion. All these are wonderful ways to open ourselves to God, and bring our offering of worship. We learn about God’s ways AND we learn to love God for Himself.
Probably we “do” some of these things in personal devotions too.
Some find God seems closer when they are doing practical things – cooking, or building, serving others by showing compassionate Love. There are indeed many routes by which we approach.
It may well be that some of those “doings” DON’T help you- I have a friend who is not musical and endures the songs! Or the prospect of praying out loud scares you.
Finding out the most helpful approach for ourselves is a life-changer.
This page, “Look, See, Pray” exists because I find observing and enjoying nature in Creation really acts as a highway to heaven! Combined with my love of photography, the sights and sounds of our wonderful planet inspire me with awe of the Creator and Saviour- and I offer my pictures as an offering to the Lord- a child’s attempt to mimic and appreciate what Father has done.
Take a look at the astounding dragonfly in today’s photo. This beauty flew into the garden, and spent a while posing (resting) on the roses and the sun-warmed brick walls.
Quite content to pose, this gorgeous creature allowed me to admire and record moments in its existence. For me, the photo is a PRAYER of thanksgiving to the Creator. And I hope it may inspire you as well.
I have discovered that my spiritual health NEEDS exposure to nature. Fresh air, wonderful light, the wind and waves, the swish of plants in the breeze: the graceful swan, the hilarious-looking camel, a sunset or a dragonfly… These all point me God-wards. Contemplating such beauty brings me face-to-face with the One who spoke Creation into being. Then I am more likely to benefit from the words, music and habits of a “Christian life.”
So then… Do YOU have a favourite “method” of approaching God? How would you explain it to someone who enquired about your living faith and your trust in Christ?
Be blessed as you give the question some deep thought!
It is all over, they think. The Romans, who are VERY good at killing. And the religious authorities- they found their traitor, rigged a trial, and persuaded Governor Pilate to do their dirty work.
Those in the crowds believed it is a “fait accompli”– some with sadness, others with patriotic pride. Rabbi Jesus is past tense.
Scattered to the four winds to hide, most of his special friends and followers are grieved, despairing that the cryptic words Jesus had spoken now have a HUGE cross-shaped full stop ending the sentence. Even the ones who actually buried Jesus were thinking of doing a “proper” anointing of the corpse after the Sabbath. A final farewell, instead of the rushed job of the Friday evening.
Now we wait.
Today WE wait in impatient expectation, ‘cos WE have read the ending of the Gospels. THEY wait in grief (or satisfaction) for the world to be “normal” again.
Perhaps Lazarus, raised from death by Jesus, had a tiny seed of hope? Perhaps also fearing the mob will come for him too…
We have no clue what the Hosts of Heaven thought or knew. Had they seen the plan? Do angels wait with bated breath?
Saturday will be weird as we wait.
And about 2,000 years forward from THEIR day of sorrows, a bright preacher is saying “It’s Friday- but Sunday’s coming!”
This is a photo that surprised me… I was taking pictures at Mont St Michel, and concentrating on the low-tide water across the sands. Nice colours and reflections. I saw the heron and some gulls and used them in the composition, as one might!
When checking the photos later, I realised there was a squabble going on between the angry heron and one bolshie gull. Beaks agape, they were swearing at each other (presumably in French) and generally being disagreeable.
Then this evening I was reading an article by Dr RT Kendall about forgiveness- especially if the other party isn’t sorry or repentant or forgiving.
Isn’t it hard to forgive when the opponent is being a ***** (insert rude word of your choice) and slapping them seems appealing?
Unless you are super-human, the answer is YES. It’s very hard.
But then Jesus never said following Him would be easy. Jesus under incredible pain and pressure on the Cross cried out “Father, forgive them for they don’t know what they are doing!” (Luke 23:34)
Not long after the Resurrection & Pentecost, the first Christian martyr was killed: in Acts 7 :59-60 we read- “While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell into the sleep of death.
Whether the issue is about fishing rights like the gull and heron, or a deathbed act of forgiveness like Jesus and Stephen, the question of forgiveness is very real.
The Lord’s Prayer contains this statement: “Lord forgive us our trespasses AS WE FORGIVE those who trespass against us.” (see Matthew 6 v12-14). So, if we will not forgive… can we be sure God will forgive us?
That’s a big complex question, too big for a short post. What do you think?
Certainly, if we refuse to forgive another, WE will be the one hurt most… we injure ourself. Is the satisfaction of demanding an apology greater than the life-enhancing joy that comes from true forgiveness? Is there any act we can do that is more Jesus-like than to forgive?
Before computers, typewriters. Before that, paper & pen; earlier still it was engraving stones or using papyrus. Humans love to write things down! An aid to memory, a splash of propaganda, and expression of the soul, a way to define facts and truth. Often, writing tells our stories, the values that we hold most dear.
We interpret things in Nature as “writing” or symbols or facts.
A crab leg left on the sand at low tide. Is your imagination at work? Relic left by a fisherman? The result of a crab squabble, or a seagull raid? Has our coastline been visited by seals, otters, sharks, or rays? A helpless remnant, pincers defiantly ready- but too weak or too late?
One hour later, and the inrushing tide will erase the story and the evidence. The crab leg will be gone, who knows where.
Now, if Jesus wrote stuff down, we’d want to know what He meant. But the only incident where Jesus wrote anything down was rather odd.
People trying to condemn Jesus as a breaker of the Law of Moses captured a woman engaged in a sexual relationship. Hoping to catch Jesus out, they demanded He tell them what to do with her… either Jesus would condemn her to be stoned to death (which would cause BIG trouble with the Romans who didn’t allow the Jews to kill their “sinners”) OR Jesus would be forgiving and therefore in breach of the letter of the Law (meaning He would be condemned as a denier of the Law).
Jesus said nothing. Then stooped to write something in the sand with His finger. AND WE DON’T KNOW WHAT HE WROTE! Aargh! How frustrating… Written in the sand, and blown away by the wind.
Then Jesus spoke. “Let the one without sin throw the first stone.”
Gradually the crowd disappeared- none of them was sinless. THEN Jesus said to her “I don’t condemn you- but change the way you live! Don’t do it again.”(Read the full story in John 8:1-11.)
Written in the sand, yet justice and mercy were lovingly engraved on that woman’s heart. And His words were ALSO written in letters of fire on the conscience of the crowd!
It is written. Pay heed to the Teacher lest we lose sight of Truth.
In the gardens of a National Trust property not far from home is this stairway heading up to a Japanese-style wooden framework atop a small mound.
Depending on how tired the visitor is at this point, you can climb the steps to get a broader view of the lovely garden. I wonder what percentage of visitors make this climb? Certainly, on the day of my visit, the majority passed by the opportunity to climb and see more of the carefully planned layout.
“People only see what they are prepared to see,” observed Ralph Waldo Emerson. That is a very perceptive comment! It helps explain why some people find conspiracy theories addictive; and why the followers of certain types of politician find it impossible to criticise their chosen “guru”.
Another perspective on this: the sarcastic description of people of very fixed opinions prejudices- “Don’t confuse me with facts, my mind is made up.”
We’ve all met (and knocked heads with) such people. It’s very trying!
As a pastor for over 30 years, I’ve come across Christians with a vision shortfall. Their faith and expectations reach so far… but ask them to climb up and look beyond, and their horror is evident! To be honest, there have been moments when I have suffered similar limitations of vision… and I have missed blessings and fruitfulness as a result. We all have “comfort zones” – but Jesus took delight in challenging the crowds (and certain named individuals) to raise their eyes to see a bigger vision. “Peter, do you want to be a fisherman all your life? Leave it all behind, and follow Me!” (See Luke 5 for the whole story.)
An interesting thing about photography: changing your “standing point” and eye-level does wonderful things to your pictures. Yet probably 80% of photos are taken at standing eye-level. Moving to one side, or going to knee-high, or climbing a ladder or hill can turn “nice snaps” into dynamic art.
Lord, what am I truly prepared to see? How does that limit the vision You want me to be part of? How much should I move or climb to see YOUR vision?Please help me grasp the courage to keep climbing- and give me the curiosity to want to climb some more steps!
I’m proud of good old-fashioned English understatement… our ability to face both disaster or triumph with equanimity- so, when asked “How are you? How’s things?” the classic response is “Not too bad, really. Things could be worse.”
On a day where the wind blew straight through you and the crackle of ice under foot as the snow froze could be heard, this golden retriever was as happy as Larry. Snow was sent for playtime not for being miserable. Dogs are probably hardier than we are! Every single human being was heading for the cafe or back to the car. But I reckon at least some of those dog owners would have said “Things could be worse” even as the Arctic clouds dropped another load of the white stuff on their heads.
This phlegmatic Britishness is quite admirable in its own way. In times of national crisis we have often faced horrible things with a smile provided there’s still a cup of tea on the table. Is that enough? It’s a pretty “low bar” to say things could be worse.
As people of faith, we surely have a better basis for confidence. Here is a short list!
God is Sovereign, so we can trust in the ultimate outcome.
Jesus has promised to be beside us in life and death.
The Lord often finds human “plans” amusingly futile.
Our hope in Christ is eternal and certain.
The Love we have received can be passed on to benefit others.
These verses (below) are a Bible basis for our positivity:
Exodus 20 v2-3
Matthew 28 v20
Psalm 2 v1-4
Hebrews 6 v19
1 Peter 4 v10
These are just a taste of the sweetness of Christian hope. Why not search out some more examples of the BETTER way of faith?
Holocaust Memorial Day, 80 years on. We remember in grief- and in hope that NEVER AGAIN will such monstrosities be committed in the name of politics, religion, hatred, or greed.
As we approached the main entrance to Mauthausen Concentration Camp the sky was gloomy, and the atmosphere sombre. Going under the archway gave a sensation coloured by apprehension: and we weren’t being screamed at by armed guards with savage dogs.
We entered an antechamber of hell.
They called it a “work camp” at first, where prisoners quarried stone by hand, lifting blocks up a steep stair. Those who fell or were injured died. People who didn’t fit the “ideals” of the Third Reich were sent here as cheap workers (slaves) and the authorities sold the stone at great monetary profit. The blood cost wasn’t on the balance sheet. Stone walls and electric fences kept things neat.
Later, they added gas chambers and crematoria ovens. Jews, gypsies, Russians, criminals, gays, and political “inconveniences” were subject to industrialised genocide. Mauthausen was a smaller camp than many, but the death toll was extremely high. Only a few survived.
We saw photos of inmates and staff, visited huts and displays, walked through the killing zone… and on the way out looked at the huge memorial sculptures erected by many nations. Near the exit was a Christian Cross made of timbers from the demolished huts.
The nearby towns and farms raised no real objections about the “vermin and criminals” who died here. Some of the guards were posted here without any real choice- Stalingrad and the Eastern Front were the alternative, for most soldiers a death sentence.
Shockingly, most of the prison staff were ordinary people, and the horrible thought is this: as ordinary as us. Few were sadistic zealots. They did a job where prisoners died rather than leave. When dictators stifle justice and humanity, ordinary people do terrible things. If the circumstances had been different, it might have been you or me. Evil insidiously drowns decency and Death takes over.
Never again. Or we will be responsible. God is just.
Proverbs 24 v11-12 “Rescue those who are unjustly sentenced to die; save them as they stagger to their death. Don’t excuse yourself by saying, “Look, we didn’t know.” For God understands all hearts, and he sees you. He who guards your soul knows you knew. He will repay all people as their actions deserve.”
It’s Polling Day in the USA: and there is justifiable concern about the outcome in a very polarised, deeply divided electorate. Probably half of the electorate will be upset/furious whatever the result. The result will have consequences, at this stage not entirely predictable.
Most of us will have opinions about one or both candidates: and though the best choice seems blindingly obvious to me, there will be sincere voters who won’t agree!
I don’t have a vote, anyway.
My hope and trust is in God, the Eternal Three in One, whose Will shall ultimately be done (however this election and the current world political brouhaha turns out).
As Jesus taught us to pray, “May Your Will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” Alongside that prayer, I’ve chosen a photo that displays something of the wonder of this world: bright scarlet autumn rose-hips with a small Shield Bug crawling after food or shelter. Even as winter draws on, life continues with flora and fauna blissfully innocent of human politics. Although vulnerable to change and “chance,” this world- so far- has a good record of surviving human dramas (though we seem to be trying to spoil that record through greed and injustice!).
The Sun will rise in the morning. It will set tomorrow evening. And the American election result will NOT have shaken Heaven’s foundations, nor given God a horrible surprise. All things are ultimately in the Best Hands… the hands that were marred by nails on the Cross. That was a dreadful Day: and it was followed by Resurrection. Life finds a Way.
So, Father God- as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord Jesus every day. Please grant us peace and faith, even in our fears and the uncertainties we face. Keep pouring out Holy Spirit truth and compassion. Have mercy on Your troubled world- which we have diminished and defaced. May Your Will be done on earth as it is in heaven. May Your Kingdom come! Come soon, Lord Jesus, and rule as King of Kings and Master of Presidents and politicians. Amen.
“Stand with the Sun behind you and you’ll get a nice photograph.” Safe advice, often given to new photographers… I think that film manufacturers wrote something similar in with the rolls of film (I’m assuming some of you remember “film” for prints or slides). It was not cheap, and developing costs for prints were quite high. In the Era B.D. (Before Digital) poor hobbyists had to work hard, and not take too many chances. Playing safe saved money! Quite often the results were predictable, and frankly often boring.
Taking a photo like the one above was a big “no-no”. Risky! Measuring the light (or guessing the exposure) was an arcane exercise. Although, from the 1970s onwards technology was progressing and in-camera light meters reduced the odds of failure.
Experience gained (often from making mistakes) helped; and whole books were penned about “correct exposure” and effective composition. A steep learning curve and an expensive hobby!
Today’s photo is of frosted grasses and weeds, just beginning to thaw in early morning sunshine. The sunlight was at 450 towards the lens, backlighting the droplets and splintering the light. I used a low crouching position to shield the lens from direct sunlight, preventing flare and sunspots. Clever stuff! (I won’t spoil the effect by telling you how many other attempts of scenes like this were failures.)
Taking risks and seeking out “learning moments” will shape us into better photographers. Capturing light and interpreting it is the very heart of photography. Funnily enough, the principle is very similar to good theology! Looking at the Light of revelation, and trying understand and apply it to life- what we know about God, and what difference it makes.
We can “play safe” with faith, carefully colouring in between the lines and avoiding tricky questions. Predictable, satisfying, unobjectionable. We can learn “our” party line, listen to “safe” speakers, and hide safely in the crowd. For a while at least, that can be good enough.
But when BIG questions come up, when tragedy rocks our foundations, when moral and theological issues impact “our” small world, we have to go looking for insights from a fresh angle. We look into the Light, squinting and blinking, and discover that splintered Light illuminates in a newly beautiful way. In taking a risk, we are stretching out in our faith- and always seeking to draw closer to God Himself. The essential “Good News” (the Light itself) is unchanged; but moving our viewpoint helps us see MORE.
Perhaps learning more about the Bible itself from scholars and mature believers; or opening ourselves to “Go on going on being filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5 v18). The great Reformers and Puritans had a saying “The Lord has yet more Light to break forth from His Word.” When we stop learning, we stop growing.
Jesus took his Twelve disciples on a three-year journey of discovery. They learned about God, about the Scriptures, about themselves- and a whole load of experiences and puzzles that stretched their minds and spirits until they became more and more like Jesus. They took risks, faced impossible odds, saw God at work in unthinkable ways: they wept at the crucifixion and were astounded at Resurrection. They then received the Holy Spirit at Pentecost… and their story journeys through the centuries to join our own.
Faith and photography are simply “learning to see Light.” Then the Light reveals Life, and drives out the darkness. “Faith” and “photo” can both be spelled R-I-S-K.
(c) 2024, Richard Starling. First posted on reflectionary.org on this date.
Look, See, Pray 