If you could ask God any question...

what would it be? Our pastor is doing a series on these kinds of questions. If you have a question, he might use it in one of his sermons. So...if you could ask God a question...submit your question in the comments and I will pass it along to our pastor.

Here's a picture to look at while you consider what that question might be.

Grassi Lakes, Alberta

Shelter

Packed

She's almost packed and ready to go.

Common Ground

Sometimes finding the common ground and shifting our focus to it helps us in making connections. Taking the spotlight off of our differences for a time allows us to see where we are similar, alike. Individuals previously not seen together, can be together, side by side. Friendships are formed.

In these pictures I've temporarily removed some of the individual colours to focus on the amazing textures, common to each of the images. Side by side, they can be. Beautifully.

Prairie's Rainbow

My heart leaps up when I behold
A rainbow in the sky...
~William Wordsworth

Driving through the prairies over a stretch that can seem rather long, we were delighted to encounter a prairie storm. Rainbows, double rainbows, dark clouds, bright sunny pops and heavy rain were all part of this storm. This was anything but boring! I had to stop and take pictures. Fortunately, the direction of the wind worked in my favor as I was shielded from the rain by our truck for this shot (and others). How beautiful, this prairie land of of ours is!

Thoughts, questions, conclusions...thoughts, questions, conclusions...

We are back from a week of holidays. I've had some time to think over the long drives we've had across the prairies. Lots of thoughts, some questions and some conclusions...that have led to lots of thoughts, some questions and some conclusions...well you get the drift.

Today's thought was along the lines of my wit's end being the beginning of Wisdom. Wisdom, capitalized because it is the Wisdom of God, is a wisdom like no other. When I come to my wit's end, my self-sufficiency, my ability or skill to navigate my way through something, do I panic? Do I board that familiar train bound for nowhere fast? Sadly, I do, all too often.

What if, instead, I chose to trust the One who knows all things, sees all things, hears all things and has a divine purpose for me and my life? Still better, what if I chose to trust in and focus on my Creator instead of trusting in and focusing on myself from the get-go?

My conclusion to this thought was that my wit's end can certainly be the beginning of Wisdom if I choose not to panic and trust. What if I choose to panic? Can this still be the beginning of wisdom?

And so it goes...

Bits

Sometimes you don't need to see the whole to know what something is. Here is a good example. Glimpses of telltale orange and familiar bits will give you a good understanding of the whole. This doesn't always work, of course, but in this case it does.

In writing, they say to "show, don't tell"...don't lay it all out. It is less interesting, less engaging if you do. I wonder if that premise can also be applied to photography.  I prefer bits of, instead of the whole. Every now and again, a sweeping landscape photo is just right, the right shot, and I will take it and enjoy the results. More often than not though, I like to get closer and see what there is to see, and then show you little bits.

Cowboy Boots and Train Tracks on a Hot Summer Day

The sun was hot and dry. Though it rained overnight, it was the first rain in a long while; the dust was rising again.  Hot winds circled and settled, circled and settled. It was as though they too were restless in the sun's heat.

Latched

The latch is closed. Safe and sound...or separate? There is a time to retreat, refresh. But at some point, there is a time to open the latch, push the gate open wide and see what there is to see on the other side. What is on the other side of your gate?

Dancing in the Shadows

Unafraid, maybe even unaware of the shadows surrounding them, the blooms dance. They live where they are, freely, without worry. Rooted and grounded, yet free. Maybe we'd all do well to consider the flowers...