Looking both ways

O God, our help in ages past,
Our hope for years to come,
Our shelter from the stormy blast,
And our eternal home.

2012 is rapidly drawing to a close. That dawned on me as I was looking back on my blog and realized that my 3rd blogging anniversary had flown right on by. What started off as an 'experiment' back in Dec. 2009 is now in its 4th year (and I realize that it's still in its infancy compared to some stalwarts). I'm no longer posting at the torrid pace of 2010 (a Project 365 year), but God's wonderful creation continues to inspire.

It's good to look back also to see where God's hand has guided, and conversely where we have decided we knew the way better. Looking back provides a good perspective on life if we have eyes to see. I'm reminded of these words:

Time, like an ever-rolling stream,
Bears all its sons away;
They fly forgotten, as a dream
Dies at the opening day.

And 'time' for each of us is different - some are given much, others relatively little (think of last week's event in Newtown, CT). Relative to eternity our time here is barely a dream, and who among us will be well-remembered in a couple of generations ?

And yet we may look forward with confidence:

O God, our help in ages past,
Our hope for years to come,
Be Thou our guard while life shall last,
And our eternal home.

Since we will be celebrating Christmas with family over the next week, it's unlikely I'll post during that time. [I'm still slowly visiting your blogs as our internet connection permits]. Thank you each and every one for your visits and kind words over this past year.

I wish all of you a Blessed Christmas.

Ravages of Time

Most time is wasted, not in hours, but in minutes. A bucket with a small hole in the bottom gets just as empty as a bucket that is deliberately kicked over. [Paul J. Meyer]

God has given me this day to use it as I will. I can waste it - or use it for good, but what I do today is important, because I am exchanging a day of my life for it ! [Heartsill Wilson]

If you have the time, click on the link below the photos, kick back, and listen for a few minutes ... 

(I will be 'out of the office' for a few days as we travel south - I hope to catch up with y'all by the end of the week)

He restores my soul

1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

2 He makes me lie down in green pastures.
   He leads me beside still waters.

3 He restores my soul.
   He leads me in paths of righteousness
   for his name's sake.

4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
   I will fear no evil,
   for you are with me;
   your rod and your staff,
   they comfort me.

5 You prepare a table before me
   in the presence of my enemies;
   you anoint my head with oil;
   my cup overflows.

6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
   all the days of my life,
   and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
   forever.


(18-55mm  f11  1/40 sec  ISO200)

Time ...

That was then ...

This is now ...

7 years gone by ... in the blink of an eye.

"Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom."  Psalm 90:12

Towards dusk

 "I venerate old age; and I love not the man who can look without emotion upon the sunset of life, when the dusk of evening begins to gather over the watery eye, and the shadows of twilight grow broader and deeper upon the understanding."

(Henry Wadsworth Longfellow  - February 27, 1807 - March 24, 1882)


For some, the night is approaching. But who knows the day or the hour ? We are all only a breath away from eternity. Seek the LORD while He may be found ... (Isaiah 55:6) 

He ain't heavy, he's my brother

The road is long
With many a winding turn
That leads us to who knows where
Who knows where

But I'm strong
Strong enough to carry him
He ain't heavy, he's my brother
So on we go

His welfare is of my concern
No burden is he to bear
We'll get there

For I know
He would not encumber me
He ain't heavy, he's my brother

If I'm laden at all
I'm laden with sadness
That everyone's heart
Isn't filled with the gladness
Of love for one another

It's a long, long road
From which there is no return
While we're on the way to there
Why not share

And the load
Doesn't weigh me down at all
He ain't heavy, he's my brother

He's my brother
He ain't heavy, he's my brother
He ain't heavy, he's my brother

15 minutes of ethereal glory

I find it fascinating to watch the metamorphosis that takes place at the setting of the sun. The changes in the lighting, the clouds, the colours, and the reflections occur literally by the minute. The ones posted below were made over a period of 15 minutes. Our Creator saw fit to paint a glorious end to the day. No two are alike, and if you miss today's, He provides another tomorrow for our enjoyment, until the arrival of THE glorious day.

(all shots made with a 18-55mm lens at f5.6 or f8.0, shutter speeds from 1/500 to 1/800 sec, ISO200)

(Day 287) Fleeting moments

There's an acre or two of bush a couple of hundred yards in front of our house - mostly lilacs guarded by some nasty little bushes with sharp spines, and interspersed with a few tall ash trees. Hidden within are the remains of what must have been an apple orchard many years ago. It's the haunt of wildflowers (2nd photo) in early spring, but I hadn't thrashed about in there since.

Who knows how long ago these apple trees were thriving - they can live to be 80 years old, like some people. And yet, this is what they look like today - a reminder that despite a long life we too are but a fleeting moment in time. Carpe diem !

(60mm  f14  1/2 sec  ISO200)

(60mm  f25  1.3 sec  ISO200)

(Day 286) He leads me beside quiet waters

 ¹ The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
 ² He makes me lie down in green pastures,
       He leads me beside quiet waters,
 ³ He restores my soul.
       He guides me in paths of righteousness
       for his name's sake.
 ⁴ Even though I walk
       through the valley of the shadow of death,
       I will fear no evil,
       for You are with me;
       your rod and your staff,
       they comfort me.
 ⁵ You prepare a table before me
       in the presence of my enemies.
       You anoint my head with oil;
       my cup overflows.
 ⁶ Surely goodness and love will follow me
       all the days of my life,
       and I will dwell in the house of the LORD
       forever.

(All photos made with a 10-22mm lens, aperture of 7.1, shutter speeds from 1/6 to 1/40 sec and ISO of 200 or 800).

(Day 94) A blessed Easter to you!

(60mm  f11  4 sec  ISO200)

(Day 87) Let there be Light

Whatever your beliefs are, scientists still have not been able to explain the origin of the universe. Oh yes, theories abound, but proof lies beyond reach. It's my belief that God took care of that, just as He took care of creating light. And He's also promised that there's light beyond death.

Some people who have had a 'near death experience' claim to have caught a glimpse of that light before they were snatched from death's jaws. Whether that's true or not, I don't know. And whether my mother-in-law saw that tonight when she left this earthly existence I don't know either. What I do believe, however, is that she's in the presence of The Light and is relieved of all her earthly suffering. For that I give thanks.

(60mm  f2.8  3.2 sec  ISO100)

(Day 77) The toil of their hands

I went for a stroll on our land today - again we were blessed by sunshine and warm temperatures. I wanted to re-visit and photograph a few places were there was evidence of those who came before us, who lived here and worked this land many years ago. As I stood near these places I wondered who the people were who had worked so hard to clear the land of rocks, and built split-rail cedar fences around hundreds of acres. This area is known for black flies and mosquitoes - how they must have been tormented as they laboured under a hot sun engulfed by swarms of pesky biting and stinging bugs. They moved on long ago (see Day 62) and only remnants of their passing through remain.

"There is no remembrance of men of old, and even those who are yet to come will not be remembered by those who follow."  (Ecclesiastes 1:11)

(18-55mm  f8  1/100 sec  ISO400)

(18-55mm  f8  1/30 sec  ISO400)

(Day 64) An ant's view of eternity

I tried to visualize myself as an ant with the goal of walking to the horizon along these tracks - that would seem to me to be incomprehensible - as an ant. I have a similar difficulty envisioning eternity. I think most people do.

(f70-200mm  f16  1/320 sec  ISO200)