No Vision

The creativity that went into this flower causes me to stop and contemplate...
People who create anything, whether it be a tasty meal or an object of art, usually have a goal in mind. Something they are trying to say, or portray... something that has significance to them, that they wish to communicate to, or share with, those around them.
Creativity comes from somewhere...it cannot be conjurred up.
Behind true creativity, I believe there is vision.

It requires inspiration to capture emotion in painting a picture, etc.
If that is required to put on paper a replica of something that already exists,
how much more inspiration (or) vision, did it take to make the original?
Can you imagine the joy and satisfaction experienced in creating a flower like this?!
To set up the process in which a flower buds and grows to full flower?

I have been thinking lately about this statement:

"WHERE THERE IS NO VISION, THE PEOPLE PERISH."

I see many lives that are evidence that this is a fact.
Some folks live their whole lives like sleep-walkers, just going thru the motions.
No vision.

Then there are those that scorn the sleep-walkers, knowing enough to know that this is no way to live.

Still no vision.

You can fill your days with deciding, most determinedly, just what your life will NOT be about.
Yet still no vision...
Still perishing on the inside...

It's not that hard to decide what you don't believe in.
It's all too easy to curse the darkness.
No vision.

Even trying to "go light your world" somehow doesn't cut it.
Your light is too weak, too feeble to be effectual.
The problem is too big for you.
The darkness is too dark for you.
No vision.

The Creator that created the flower, and us, has vision.
His creations are imbued with life and light.
They effect us, because they are meant to.
There is vision and purpose behind everything.
We are made to have a vision, a purpose, to believe.

What do you believe?
Does your belief give you purpose?
Or does your unbelief darken your vision...

As it seems?

A few nights ago, I snapped these pictures of the sky. It was a beautiful evening, and these poor pictures in no way capture it.

As I looked at them on the camera screen, I was struck by the thought that if you turn the picture upside down, it looks like you are on top of the clouds, like when you're looking out the window of a jet...

...or
it looks like the ocean.

A song I heard recently came to mind, by Lifehouse.

"Storm"

How long have I been in this storm?
So overwhelmed by the ocean's shapeless form
Water's getting harder to tread
With these waves crashing over my head

If I could just see you
Everything would be all right
If I'd see you
This darkness would turn to light

And I will walk on water
And you will catch me if I fall
And I will get lost into your eyes
I know everything will be alright
I know everything is alright

I know you didn't bring me out here to drown
So why am I ten feet under and upside down
Barely surviving has become my purpose
Because I'm so used to living underneath the surface

If I could just see you
Everything would be all right
If I'd see you
This darkness would turn to light

And I will walk on water
And you will catch me if I fall
And I know everything will be alright
I know everything will be alright

There are a lot of wordless thoughts rolling around in my heart. It feels like it's not necessarily my business to tame them into words. I will just say that I trust God that everything will all be made right one day. What feels like an ocean we are drowning under might turn out to be the sky, because after all, things are not always...

AS IT SEEMS.

Lean Not

We are creatures of habit. I've heard it said that a habit is something we do without thinking. I have a notion that we are just as much creatures of habit in our ways of thinking, as we are in our actions. I'm glad we have the opportunity to rely on Someone whose wisdom is much greater than ours. We can trust the One who formed us in our mother's womb to lead us away from leaning unto our own understanding.
It can be very enlightening to see things from a new, or different, perspective. I pray for open minds and hearts, that we could invite our Creator to renew our minds... and create in us, clean hearts.

The same thing... just from a different angle...

When we start to see something from a different angle, pretty soon it opens up a whole new world.

The possibilities are endless.

I have also noticed, from behind a camera, that it is good to not be afraid to get up close, and personal,
even maybe getting wet or dirty (ie: uncomfortable).
I think the same is true when it comes to viewing our own lives. There is more to be gained, than lost, if we have the courage to do so.
Just some thoughts I had while snapping these pictures...

2010 Fair Fun

The fair is a much-anticipated event in our household. Sister-in-law Miriam tagged along with us with her two girls. Our girls enjoyed the rides with their cousins. Abi and Amber still really like the little ferris wheel. (Amber in the green shirt facing left and Abi beside her)

All the girls were very pink-cheeked by the end of the day, and I was pretty worn out! Standing in the hot sun, in high humidity has a way of doing that to a person!

Front row seat on the Crazy Bus held (l to r) Chloe, Hadassah, and Lexia.

The Farm Service Agency had some fun things for the kids to do. They made "Soil Sam's", which they are still enjoying. They involve soil and lawn seed in a nylon stocking, decorated with a face. The lawn seed sprouts and becomes "Sam's" hair. The girls now have fun giving regular hair-cuts!

They also had this neat section of culvert painted up on the insude to show what is going on underneath the ground. Not that the girls studied it much, they just like the neat fort it made

Left to right in the front is: Chloe, Lexia, and Abi, with Hadassah and Damaris in the back. I think it's a pretty good snapshot to remember the day by.

I enjoyed the fair too. I love the sense of community that I felt as the long day went by. I saw so many people I know, from so many different walks of life. The best part of the day was looking down on it all from the top of the ferris wheel, and being struck by the way God sees us all, individually, not as a faceless crowd, and with so much compassion in His gaze...