Frozen in Time

In the neighborhood, this year, we are having winter. And I DO MEAN winter!!  Previous years have been exceptionally mild, with minimal quantities of snow.  This year,  we had a 10-inch snowfall and lately the temperature struggles to get above freezing.  I was able to capture this picture one morning, and the ice cycles encased the greenery like it was trying to preserve it for all time! 

Our city once had a thriving glass industry.  One can visit the museum and see glassware being made. Most of it is blown glass that requires a lot of hands-on work and skill.  Paperweights are on view and available for purchase.  The glass surrounds an object, such as a flower or butterfly making them look like they are living inside of the clear glass orb.   The pine needles in the picture remind of just that kind of thing.

Why do most people take photos?  People who developed film used to say they could predict the age of a child by the number or pictures they were producing. The younger the child, the more momentous moments were recorded. 

 I have a granddaughter and can't seem to take enough shots of her.  She is already 14 months old, and has changed so much since birth!  Her parents are ever at the ready with those cell phones so as not to miss the exciting things she does, the new things she does, and how adorable she is. (I'm not too biased, am I?)     

 Think about other events when a lot of pictures are usually taken.  Weddings, graduations, parties, vacations.  I know some people have even taken pictures at  funerals.   

This picture is of our first beagle, Hershey, much loved, sorely missed, and gone a while, but her paw prints remain in our hearts. I am sad and miss her, but when I look at the images of her, I smile. As I reviewed photos to include this time, I noticed how many of my family and friends have passed away. I have a snapshot of my great grandmother, even though I never met her.  I am so glad that I have photos of loved ones, now gone. Most of the time, they bring good memories to mind.

 Some folks are busy with their cameras when they spot wildlife, or a vivid sunset.  We want to capture the minute to help our memories, and perhaps to relive it.  

I have a dear friend who  tells me, "That was a memory maker."  She has a good point.  The new shirt gets worn out, the candy is gone, the bouquet fades, the money seems to evaporate. True, our memories get clouded, but we are far more likely to recall happenings if they are documented with graphics.  Why is the cliche, "a picture is worth a thousand words," so true? 

 A magazine article written about gift suggestions recommended giving someone an experience rather than "a thing."  We build memories together.  We once took our son and daughter-in-love on a cruise. Unfortunately, she was sick much of the time, but we had many happy, and memorable moments.

What would the news media be without photography?   It is possible to watch history being made,  in real time.  Documentation is invaluable in some situations.  We survey the damage after the storm and shoot for our records, to demonstrate the impact of the tragedy.

 Can you imagine how our faith might be impacted if there were portraits of Jesus? or a video of Moses on Mt. Siani.  Why have so many paintings and movies been created depicting religious themes?  

How have body cams and cell phones changed crime investigations?

Working with a camera can be artistic as some in our photo club share unusual views, colors, shapes, textures.....

I have had exquisite experiences which I wished would never end. The best I can do is to return to the venue, although places often do not impress us like they do on that initial visit.  But I can review the images captured for all time, and remember.

What the Lord says:

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Can a mother forget her infant, be without tenderness for the child of her womb? Even should she forget, I will never forget you.  See, upon the palms of my hands I have engraved you. Isaiah 45:15-16

Resilience and Tenacity

Resilience is: the capacity to recover quickly from difficulties; toughness. A second use of the word means: the ability of an object to bounce back into shape. Tenacity is: being able to grasp something firmly; being determined; continuing to exist, to persevere.

There has been a lot of publicity about the dangerous loss of monarch butterflies. These animals are not only beautiful, but they are pollinators, as well. Much of their habitat is being destroyed, which in turn is proving disastrous to these flying stained glass pieces. How sad.

Due to changes in our environment, whether from natural disasters, or man's folly and greed, the monarchs are only one species of many, both animals and plants, which are no longer thriving. I am amazed to see the way entire trees grow from one small crevice, or a plant will fight to survive in the weirdest places.

Unless you live in South Jersey, many of you may be unfamiliar with the lowly horseshoe crab. It is not a crab at all, but more likely a cousin of the spider family. They are quite homely, but very useful. Because of that, they are being over harvested and impacted by weather and the quality of water. After spawning, the journey back into the bay can be treacherous, and some never make it. The species is harvested for their blood used in the pharmaceutical industry. Fortunately, most of the critters survive the process, but new technology should make the practice obsolete as a new chemical is being developed to accomplish the same job. They have been around for over 480 million years. This kind of thinking and work need to be applied to so many other areas where this beautiful world God gave us, is slowly dying. In the spring, thousands of shore birds, including the endangered red turn knots, land on the local shores of southern New Jersey where the horseshoe crabs lay their eggs.They are a primary source of sustenance as the birds continue their long flights to their summer homes. The stress on the crabs is resulting in less food for the migrating birds, which will impact their longevity, as well.

There is a small light house on the Delaware Bay which has been a sentinel for ships since 1849, the second oldest light house in New Jersey. It continues to serve as a navigational tool and was added to the National Register of Historic Places. In 2017, it was completely restored and refurbrished. Sadly, the encroachment of the Delaware Bay with rising tides and more destructive storms, is taking a toll on this much-loved landmark. Attempts are being made to protect it, but it is unlikely to survive. Humanity is also facing several threats and challenges. How we need resilience and tenacity! I intended to post monthly; however, major health complications altered my plans. How, I needed to be able to come back, and to persevere. Not only is the pandemic wrecking havoc on our world, but the usual "wars and rumors of wars", famine, storms, earthquakes, and fire are also causing unimaginable suffering. I could go on, but the intention of this blog is to uplift and encourage, even in the midst of all of our pain.

Are we to "curse God and die,"as Job was encouraged to do by his friends? Will we allow these things to destroy us? Or could it be that doors are opening for people to reach out and help each other? Opportunities to show our better side? Prospects to show what love really is? Muscles that are not used, quickly atrophy. What about our faith muscles? Can they be strengthened? When I considered this theme, I wasn't sure I had appropriate pictures to illustrate my point, or if I had enough to make it worthwhile. Well, I have some I did not even post! What photos might you find to represent the challenges in your life? Have you had opportunity to see God at work? Are there shots that you look at repeatedly because they bring positive thoughts to mind? In this present days of trouble, what moves your heart to respond? "My strength is sufficient.. my strength is made perfect in weakness" II Corinthians 12:9