Restoration 09/13/2011
 
Few places call to me in such a deeply restorative way as the Grand Canyon. As I traveled across the country from Nashville, Tennessee to the Western deserts, my only "required" stop was this chasm of colors, sounds, smells, and physical exhileration. Though driving a 20-foot U-Haul truck with a tow dolly, nothing was going to deter me from racing from the entrance gate to Bright Angel trail, one of my favorite descents into this magical place. Of course, cameras were standard equipment, but almost more important was the Native American flute that hitch-hiked down the trail to the spots I knew to be incredibly acoustical in sending the soft songs across the canyon. Gently, the restoration of heart and soul begins.

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When thinking about taking pictures in darkness or extremely low light conditions, photographers know they have to make changes in their camera settings (as opposed to bright daylight) and bring a tripod.  The changes almost always include opening up the aperture of the lens (to let in more light), slowing the shutter speed down dramatically (to let in more light) and putting the camera on a tripod (which allows the camera to be immoble while the shutter is open longer).   Every change done to the settings and technique are meant to "let in more light."   As I shot the photo below late last night, I thought about how some of these techniques can apply to our own lives, rather than just the art of photography. 

When we find ourselves in dark places, our pupils dilate (much like the aperture of a lens) to let in more light.  And when we sit still, slowing ourselves down (much like slowing the shutter speed and the immobility of the tripod), we start to actually see our surroundings in a way that we can't do if we're moving too fast.  The beauty that is visible in the day is also visible in the dark - though greatly and often dramatically changed.  The branches in the photo are beautiful in the light, but had I not slowed down and let myself focus on them with a small light glowing behind them, I would have missed a beautiful and moody scene. 

Perhaps not so amazing is that these techniques can also be applied as we are met with dark times or challenges in our lives.  Slowing down, opening our eyes/hearts/spirit, more light (illumination) is shed on the problem or challenge.  New solutions come into view that we might not have seen had we approached these dark times in the same way we approach the easy moments.  A great reminder for us to think about each day. 

Photo:  Smokey Mountains, Gatlinburg, TN - copyright Nancy Diana
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As I think on the lack of time I spent on this blog last year, I immediately realized that I can revamp my original thoughts about this site and combine it with my passion for photography.  Every photo I take invokes a thought or feeling in me and what better combination could I find than to post a photo and share the thoughts it brings to mind.  Since I photograph daily, and post photos to my main database almost daily as well, I think this will work!  :-)  Hoping you'll continue to join me as I turn this into a thoughtful photo blog. 

First Photo:  Infrared shot of the beach at sunrise - Canaveral National Seashore, Titusville, Florida.

When I shoot in infrared I find that visually, things become pared down and simplified.  Expected colors disappear, light and shadows change and my spirit actually calms.  I think this is one of the things that draws me to infrared.  Yes, there can be increased drama, but mostly, I find peace, much like the peaceful scene below.   The beach at sunrise was empty save for my husband, water birds and small crabs poking up through the sand.  Peace, pure and simple.  Easy breeze off the water.  The sunrise was spectacular and I'll share photos of that later, but for now, there was just peace.  We need more of that in our lives. 
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Rushing, overpowering, flowing, powerful, moving, compelling, awe-inspiring, intimidating - writing and reading these words, it’s easy to think of how the Holy Spirit entered the first apostles on that first Pentecost.  Yet, as I write this by candle-light (having had no power for over 24 hours), I cannot avoid thinking of  how those words also fit what Nashville has experienced this first weekend of May, as the rains came down without ceasing and the waters rose to challenge everything that stood in the way.  These flood waters reached into every open (and not so open) space because it nowhere else to go.  There was no escaping its reach and its power.  Even if you are on higher ground, you are still affected by its devastation.  We can see the news, hear of the loss of life, watch live video of homes and vehicles being swept away.  Our hearts feel the loss even if we aren’t experiencing it directly.  Think on this:  What would our lives be like if we had to surrender ourselves to the power of the Holy Spirit in the same way that we have had to surrender to the power of these floods?  We often act like we can escape the reach of God, much like climbing to higher ground in a flood.  By trying to escape, we are denying ourselves the miracle of the Holy Spirit in our lives.  We are missing out on the flood of God in our lives.  We need this flood!  We need this miracle!  When the Spirit is flooding within and out of us, we are able to challenge everything that stands in our way! 

Here's a link to the photos from the flood:  http://www.pbase.com/bellanundo/floodageddon_2010
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Our 2010 Lenten season has begun and with it comes the powerful opportunity to reflect on sacrifice and our personal relationship with Christ. Rather than looking at the usual material things we might choose to give up for Lent, i.e. certain foods, video games, TV, etc., there are many other (and likely more important) sacrifices we can make that can work powerfully to model us into Christ's loving likeness.

As we read our Bible, it becomes undeniably clear that the focus of Christ's life was not on the material things He went without, but rather the lessons He taught us by simply loving us. Surprisingly, though, when we stop to think on how great His love is for us, we often overlook that He lived His life without some very familiar things that we usually practice or encounter daily, i.e. complaint, judgment, hypocrisy, bitterness, envy, greed, gluttony, self-importance, procrastination, impatience, arrogance, worry, pride, self-righteousness, or self-pity (tragically, the list of our human failings is endless).

Imagine for a moment the changes that would happen to our world if we chose to sacrifice any of these sins during the Lenten season.  The co-worker who gets on our nerves because of their perceived aloofness might actually be someone who's been hurt so much by judgment and has created a habit of self-protection through aloofness - but if we let go of our habit of judging others, that person then might see in us the promise of Christ's love and be able to love and trust others in return.  By sacrificing our habit of self-pity, we might then be able to genuinely empathize with others and be able to meet people where their need is greatest.  And by sacrificing our bitterness, we might then be able to see with open eyes AND hearts the blessings that God brings to us every day.   

And what if we could then make a habit of these types of sacrifices that would last beyond those very short 40 days. By choosing to give up or sacrifice our sins (and let's face it, we have that choice) and genuinely reflecting on Christ and His sacrifice for us during each day of our own Lenten promises, we can truly let our Lenten sacrifices act as worship of Him. And we are made to worship Him … always.
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A new decade has begun!  And with it comes the tradition of making New Year’s resolutions.  Many of us will start with a goal of getting in better shape or giving up a bad habit.  Many of us will strive to be kinder or work harder.  And many of us will simply admit that no amount of resolution-ing will get us to do those things we know we should do for ourselves.  But rather than merely looking in judgment on our lives and our human condition, resolutions actually offer us an opportunity to re-look at solutions for the problems we are experiencing. 

We all understand that “resolution” can be defined as a formal intention of something we want to change in our lives.  “Solution” is generally defined as a fix to a problem.  “Re-” can be defined as “again and again.  It also has another meaning when abbreviated to “re:” – regarding.  If we put these two words together as “re-solution,” we can move beyond the formality and rigid expectation of resolution and into a more approachable action of looking again at solutions to improve our lives. 

That said, where do we truly find solutions?  Only one answer is needed:  from our Father God!  Think on this:  When we are desperate for a solution to a problem, what (hopefully) do we do?  We pray!  We ask God for help.  We actually petition His assistance.   Usually, however, when making New Year’s resolutions, God doesn’t normally factor into our statement of intention.  But He should.  Without him, we are incapable of changing our lives.  We are unable to bring about solution to the myriad of problems that plague our daily existence.  Thinking of a resolution more as a prayer than a stated intent actually brings us closer to successful re-solution than we could achieve on our own. 

So, this New Year’s, let your resolutions be your prayers and petitions to God.  God will help you stay on course.  He always does because He actually knows the course He’s chosen for you.  Our new resolution?  “Go with God.”
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I know it seems early, but we are fast-approaching the season of Advent, which leads up to the day Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.  As you can imagine, it is quite challenging to find just one theme or idea to think on at this time.  We have the word, “advent,” which has multiple definitions, i.e. “a coming into place, view, or being; arrival,” or “the coming of Christ into the world.”  We have a theme of “birth,” which also has multiple definitions, i.e. “an act or instance of being born,” or “any coming into existence; origin; beginning.”  We also frequently hear the word “miracle,” which can be defined as: “such an effect or event manifesting or considered as a work of God,” or “one that excites admiring awe.”   What strikes me deeply is how powerfully-connected these few words are to our appreciation of Christmas.   We understand the feeling of expectation brought on by the arrival of Christ – it is woven throughout the Bible in the prophetic tales of the coming Messiah.  And, each one of us has experienced the “coming into existence” that happened upon our own births.  Finally, we are certainly awestruck by the multiple miracles that came into being following that first miracle of Christ-child’s virgin birth.  Think on this, however:  As interconnected as these three words are to our thoughts on Christmas, we now have other themes that clamor loudly and quite forcefully for our attention during this very holy time of the year.  We are bombarded with advertisements telling us that we MUST have this item or that in order to be happy.  We MUST buy this toy for our child or we’ll be bad parents.  We MUST spend beyond our means for things that, in the end, are simply not miraculous.  Am I thrilled to have something like the computer I am typing on (or TV, iPod, cell phone, etc.)?  Honestly, yes, because these things do make my life easier and more enjoyable.  Can I call these things “miraculous?”  In a sense, possibly – because it is amazing that technology has advanced to where it is today.  BUT, is it miraculous in the sense that it will bring us to new life in the Kingdom of Heaven?  Absolutely not!  So, when we are looking at those miracles that make our lives easier here on earth, let us not forget the Miracle(with a capital M) that ensures our everlasting life with our Father.  Let us not be blindsided by the “promises” of material comfort so much that we neglect to spend time celebrating the spiritual comfort we are so mercifully and miraculously given by the birth of our Savior. 
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When Americans think of “discovery,” especially when we are still in grade school, we often think of Christopher Columbus.  And though we now understand that Columbus didn’t actually “discover” America, we still have a holiday that celebrates his “discovery” of the new world.  With this theme of discovery in mind, I wanted to spend some time looking at what discovery means for Christians (as well as all other believers in God, Creator, Higher Power, etc.).  Can you remember when you “discovered” God for the first time?   Or the first time you discovered the power of the Holy Spirit moving in your life?  Or the life-changing discovery of the gift of your salvation?  Were you truly discovering something that was previously unknown in this world? Honestly, no.  But it was new to you!  I think this is an amazing aspect of discovery.  Though we may feel like we’re making an incredible discovery of something new in OUR lives, we really are simply becoming aware of something that already existed, but we just didn’t know it before.  Think on some of the greatest discoveries of the ages:  We now have a better understanding of the universe around us thanks to astronomical science.  And biologists are discovering new and unusual life in remote areas even to this day.  Consider, too, the oxygen in the air we breathe – it wasn’t “discovered” until the 1700s, but obviously, it was still in the air.  And think on the amazing discoveries made by Einstein and present-day physicists.  All of these discoveries are things that still exist even though we couldn’t previously see, understand, or explain them – our lack of comprehension didn’t mean they weren’t still there. And, what is undoubtedly our greatest, most life-impacting “discovery,” God existed long before we met Him for the first time and is the source of all we will ever discover.  So, the next time we experience the excitement of a new discovery, let us use it as an opportunity to rediscover our Creator God and lift up praise and thanks to Him for revealing to us more of His creation.   Go out and discover God!!! 
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Thoughts on Giving Thanks:

One of this season’s most thoughtful holidays is Thanksgiving Day. Many of us will take this day and the time leading up to it as an opportunity to give thanks for the blessings of our lives. Some of these blessings are seemingly simple, every day gifts, such as the clothes we wear. Some are life-changing, like the miracle of life. I know that I have said prayers of thanks in the past for family, friends, shelter, food, clothing, etc. At times we may even struggle to give thanks due to challenges we experience, but more often than not, we are still able to find something to be thankful for. But as I ponder what it means to give thanks, I became aware that there is yet another way to give thanks other than saying the words or praying with gratitude. We can actually give of ourselves in a way that brings life to thankfulness and gratitude in others. Think on this: When we offer assistance to a friend in need, when we invite a stranger into our lives, or when we sacrifice our comfortable routine and spend our free time in service to our community, we are creating an opportunity for others to give thanks as well. What a gift this is! When reading 1 Thessalonians 5:18 with this type of thanks giving in mind, this scripture takes on even greater meaning: "give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." (NIV) My understanding of this scripture already compels me to give thanks to God at all times for all things He has brought into my life, whether I understand them or not. However, I also believe this scripture calls on us to live our lives in a way of service that encourages others to also give thanks. Think what this type of thanks giving would mean for our earthly existence as we model ourselves into Christ’s likeness. People cannot help but be transformed when they are thankful. Let us go and GIVE thanks!
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