I love that delicious moment when we find ourselves at the edge of a passing storm… the sun peeks through, and a rainbow ignites. Arching across the skies, those gorgeous colours offer us hope.
Life will always have storms. But the Lord God gives us rainbows. Do we fear the storm- or celebrate the rainbow?
One encouraging phrase sometimes used during tough times is “This too shall pass.” It’s true enough- I have a 100% record of surviving bad times (so far). But that is small comfort when we have to face the harsh realities of sickness or grief, when we -or those we love- seem caught up in a tornado of trial or terror.
Jesus offered something more reliable: in Matthew 24:35 (NLT) he says:- “Heaven and earth will disappear, but my words will never disappear.”
That promise shines like a rainbow against the darkening sky. A technicolour guarantee! Jesus speaks- and gives Life.
Later, in 1 Cor 13 v13, Paul commented that it all boils down to this:
“Faith, Hope, and Love shall remain- and the greatest of these is Love.”
Cooler moist air, early angled sunshine, and a spider’s web becomes an artwork: its fragility set off beautifully by the smooth solid rose-hips adding hints of colourful, warm, apricot.
Eureka! The kind of web that when not lit up can be walked into by us as well as bugs which then enlivens mornings with an impromptu outburst of spluttering interpretative dance.
Suddenly all the delicate structure of the engineering of a web is plain to see. How did spiders ever learn to do that?
The complexity of a garden eco-system is astonishing. So many creatures taking part in the interweaving dynamic of Life. Then the plants that provide beauty, food, cover and more. From ant to tree, there is a place for everything. Most of the events in our gardens happen without our awareness. Life and death conflicts go on in the grasses, the soil, and the air. Hidden birds burst into song (which we sometimes fail to notice- that is surely a crime!).
Becoming aware of the life around us is important. It sets us in the proper context as part of our home, our community, our world.
We will see, hear and smell things that lift our consciousness, and even open us on a spiritual level. Respect for creation often leads to a deeper respect, a reverence, towards God. Theologians talk about God being “immanent” – being present in and sustaining life- and this means God can be encountered in and through the stream of life we are part of. Grace roosts in our treetop, waiting to fly down to our shoulder.
As we step into our home, into our garden, onto our day’s journey, we are on holy ground. God is present, and through encountering His Presence we participate in holiness. We are “set aside” for a holy purpose which can be worked out wherever our day takes us.
My day started with a spider’s web. And I sensed the pleasure of Jesus as I photographed it, and as I started to write about the experience. God is here, as He always has been. Now, I am aware.
Psalm 113:4-6
The Lord is high above all nations; His glory is above the heavens. Who is like the Lord our God, Who is enthroned on high, Who humbles Himself to behold The things that are in heaven and in the earth?
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!
“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.
Two aspects of Light: the first photo is taken inside Linz Cathedral, showing the colours from the stained glass windows on the stone wall. It reminds the worshipper that God is Light, the Saviour who brings freedom and forgiveness. The cathedral is clean, peaceful, and beautiful.
Second: a memorial Cross made from the timber of the old barracks in Mauthausen Concentration Camp, a few miles up the road. What is left of the camp has been turned into a Memorial Centre which tells the stories of some of the 90,000 prisoners who died there. It is a place of grief and remorse- but the Christ who was crucified understands suffering. That cross belongs there.
So close together- a building designed for worship, and another building built for mass murder.
This is the human dilemma in a nutshell. We are capable of love- and also capable of immense cruelty. Some would prefer to have a faith without a Cross- others would like to cover up the evidence of brutality. Without these reminders, we could ignore the chilled conscience and say “I didn’t do it, I didn’t know, I’m not to blame.”
Jesus shines Light into the darkness, invites our response, and says “I have come to bring LIFE in all its fullness.” (John 10:10)
When we come to the Cross, we begin to walk in the Light.
Whenever I am tempted to think I have everything sorted out, God has a way of reminding me that I’m not that amazing. Sunsets, sea, sand, sky… too vast and marvellous for me to calculate or control. My response is personal, but cannot be separated from the union of worshipping Church through all ages.
So then, Lord God,
this interaction of matter, light, and wonder
humbles my heart before the infinite glory,
telling me there is a Glory beyond Glory.
Infinite Love and Infinite Grace,
Absolute Holiness and Divine Majesty,
You alone are God.
I thank You for the gift of another day,
and praise You for revealing Love
that covers my sins
as the sea scrubs the sand.
Far above the golden air
energised by the Sun
Lifts my soul to contemplate infinity-
yet infinity is wrapped in your Hand
and stars and galaxies beyond sight
glow in the Presence
that has come to Earth
and will reconcile all things to Yourself.
Lord, I am too small
too limited
and too flawed
to offer perfect praise-
all I have I give You,
a prodigal son
in a prodigal world,
hardly daring to believe
my Father runs to greet me:
my crucified Christ Rose for me,
Holy Spirit Presence fills me-
For I was lost, and am now found;
I was dead, and am alive in You.
Such Infinite Mercy,
such mystery of grace.
In Christ alone mystery is unfurled
as the Banner over me is Love.
Amen.
(c) Richard Starling, 2021
Not every experience, photograph or person has to be outstandingly dynamic. Ordinary is good.
We have become addicted to the buzz of adrenaline. Bigger, better, faster, louder, brighter- and usually more expensive to us as “buyer” and to the ordinary person doing the producing. This is not, in my opinion, a “good thing.” We become greedy, and then dissatisfied when our latest “fix” doesn’t meet our expectations.
So today’s photo is distinctly ORDINARY. Reeds, grasses, water, colour, and a reflection. Not even a duck or dragonfly. It just IS. And that, my friends, is just fine.
Bellamy or Attenborough might get excited about the botany or biology. It’s a habitat but we don’t know for whom. Perhaps Ratty and Mole will pass by, messing about on the river…
Why have I bothered to post it? It won’t excite many people, naturalists apart.
Two theological reasons. First, the Creation narratives in the Bible record one amazing truth. God saw “That it was GOOD.” Everything that existed through the act of creation has divine approval. (We’ve made a mess of much of it, but that’s a story for a different day with different questions!)
Second, the actual reflection. What is it? Light. What we see as a reflection is the light coming back from our subject. Our Sun has flooded the atmosphere with light; it bounces off the grass, reeds and water. Our eyes receive that light and our brain interprets what we “see” in terms of what is there, that which is revealed by the light.
That’s the point, really. The photo is pleasant, colourful, and shapely in an ordinary sort of way. Ordinary things (and people) are GOOD… and defined by the Light they reflect.
My life actually gains its meaning not from my ego or experiences, but the quality and quantity of Light that I reflect. My ordinary daily “being” is defined by how clearly and accurately I reflect the Light of the World: which is of course one of the descriptions of Jesus Christ. I think I should pray next.
Hey, God, just a few words, if I may.
I know I’m pretty ordinary. I shall never be a Dad or grandad, but I love all my family. I’ll never play football for England, I’m not going to be the best preacher in the world, nor the best photographer. I can make the effort to be the best “me” possible- if You give me some help! – and I can stay as clean as possible, inside and out. Then I will reflect Your Light. It won’t make me famous, or rich, or really successful, ‘cos I’m ordinary, and I’m not sure I’d do well with too much fame or celebrity status. So please give me a Hand to be kind, decent, holy and a help to others: and let Your Light shine on me so I can reflect Your love accurately and well. Thank You for giving me a lovely wife to share my days, for allowing me to serve a bit in churches and the community, and giving me the wit and willingness to know that ordinary is good. Not just “good enough” but actually GOOD, the way You intended me to be.
I’m sorry I haven’t always managed to be “me” very well- and the regrets and repentances of my life are best left to Your grace-filled mercy. When those mistakes and sins have hurt other people, Lord, please comfort and heal them: and I trust Your promise about forgiving and being forgiven, so I also want to say that I forgive the people who have been less than kind or helpful to me.
All in all, Lord Jesus, please let me reflect Light all my days- and to enjoy You and Your gifts, always. Then I reckon You will look at the reflection I am, and say that’s good too. You will even see Your own Face reflected in me- and that’s the highest honour I could ever, ever have. Amen.
If any of that reflects who you are, or how you feel, reflect on that for a bit… and may God shine the Light of His smiling face on you too. God specialises in making the ordinary “good” and, in His eyes, special.
Not a promising sort of day. Cloudy, showery, and cool. Then the light broke through. Dark clouds ripped apart, silver swathe across the sea horizon, and our boat trip suddenly became much more enticing!
That’s the thing about Light. It has immense power to overcome darkness. It is the light and energy of the Sun that powers the weather on the planet, not the clouds that shroud and dull our days. Sooner or later, Light breaks through.
It is less than two weeks to Christmas. The familiar Bible stories and Christmas carols will remind us of angels, of a mysterious Star, of a lamp breaking the darkness as a baby takes breath- and the cosmos celebrated the birth of Jesus Christ.
I was awake early, and sitting with a cuppa waiting for daybreak. Picking up a Bible, and turning to the Letter to the Philippians, I found myself marvelling at the words that Paul used to describe unity and Christlike-living, setting it against the background of the attitude of Jesus. Son of God, yet born in total humility, and living a selfless life of obedient faith. The Light broke through for me- THIS is the message of Christmas!
Philippians 2:1-14 (ANIV) If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.
Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant,being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himselfand became obedient to death— even death on a cross!
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed— not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence— continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose. Do everything without complaining or arguing…
Such quick change. A few weeks ago, the wild daffodils earthed the sunshine and made the world a cheerier place.
Just a few weeks later the trees are breaking their buds and soft new leaves clothe the landscape. These back-lit copper beech leaves blend vibrant colour with downy gentleness.
Soon those leaves will turn darker in colour: but will continue turning sunlight into nutrients, and absorbing carbon dioxide so oxygen can become the breath of life.
Easter celebrations have reminded us of Jesus, who is the Light of the World. Shining the Light of Glory out of the mouth of an Empty Tomb, the grace of Almighty God announced that Darkness and Death were destroyed.
Eternal Light is making Life grow again. Every time we witness the awesome ordinariness of a Spring day, and the procession of colour and song provided by nature, a spark of True Light is planted in our innermost being. We may not recognise it, we may even try to hide it- but that Light is a gift, a message of Love sent by the Faithful One who will use any opportunity to call us back into divine Presence and awareness.
I intend to enjoy as many moments of Spring Light as I can: and hope that my heart will interpret the Message wisely, so that my whole being is infused with that Heavenly Light that has always been the Light of all humankind. Let us look, so that we see: and in seeing, we may pray, praise, and serve the Kingdom of God here on Earth- until the final Promise is unveiled, and the heavens and Earth will be renewed as the Lord dwells among us.
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.He was with God in the beginning.Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it…” (John 1 v1-5)
Their probable answer? “Good light.” Few things are as disappointing as being in a good location but having dull lighting. That often results in “flat” photos without contrast or drama. Ironically, having too much light intensity makes photography equally difficult.
It was early-ish, about 8 o’clock, and the morning was shrouded in heavy mist. There were signs it might lift, so the eternal optimist packed some kit and headed off in search of elusive perfection.
Bognor is blessed with a beautiful park. It seemed a good possibility for pictures. Hardly had I parked and started lurching along, when this happened.
Glorious sun burnt through the mist, and the trees became scaffolding for drama. As light filtered through the trees, its rays carved a transient sculpture of delight. Just at the right moment, a bloke walking his dog came and stood in a great position, adding a mysterious figure barely visible through the brightness.
Though I was almost blinded by the light, I was no longer alone.
An old hymn has the line ” ‘Tis only the splendour of Light hideth Thee.” When we look for brightest light, we find holiness and glory that exceeds our understanding, but satisfies the ache in our soul.
The verse from the New Testament reminds us that God is Light, that Light overcomes darkness, and that this Divine Light is able to shine even into our innermost darkness. Many Christians can testify that the dawning realisation that Jesus Christ brings the smile of heaven to our lives is a moment of dramatic beauty. In the darkness, suddenly Light is there, blinding and yet welcoming- and revealing the Face that makes us aware of Love that seeks the lost, rescues the struggling, embraces the lonely, and accepts even me.
Sometimes the world is dark enough to foster despair. All news is bad news… in the words of Private Fraser “We’re doomed. We’re all doomed…” That is when we most need to hear and see hope- and hope shines with unearthly Light. When the darkness is near, remember the Gift that God has given: 2 Corinthians 4:6 (NLT) For God, who said, “Let there be light in the darkness,” has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ.
Look, See, Pray 