Do Not Isolate

I took this snapshot from a page of my weekly Bible study entitled When You Pray. The words "from a distance" resonated with me. 

Distance is an easier place for me to stay, but staying there is not God’s best for me.

Choosing not to distance myself from others is a very real struggle to live out. And that is because at a very young age, I learned to survive the harshness of this world by isolating myself.

As an adult, my tendency is to do the same. However, for the last two decades, I’ve known that the Lord didn’t want me to cope like that anymore. He doesn’t want me to isolate.

I still struggle to overcome my isolation tendencies when stressful interactions happen. I still fall short and am very aware of my preference to stay away from people who are intentionally ugly with their words or their actions. 

Yet, I choose to forgive them since the Bible instructs me to forgive. I do so because the Lord has forgiven me for any ugly words or rude actions I have shown to others, even in jest.

I’m still a work in progress when it comes to not isolating myself from others nor avoiding a loved one when things get hard. It's a worthy pursuit to try my best to reconcile and restore relationships when possible. 

In a nutshell, I am to love God, love others, and show them God's love until the day He takes me home.

Cherry Blossoms and Aunt Noreen

One time while visiting my Aunt Noreen at her home near Baltimore, I took a daytrip to our nation’s capitol to photograph the cherry blossoms. My cousin Tony, who is her son, went with me on that little jaunt to Washington, DC.

After that adventure seven years ago, I posted a cherry blossom photo (above) to my Facebook. It popped up as a Facebook memory earlier today, and it now holds an even sweeter sentiment on this particular day—April 13, 2022.

You see, this morning, my Aunt Noreen passed away into the loving arms of our Lord. She’s free of her bodily pain here on earth and is now reunited with her husband and other loved ones in heaven.

I love you, Aunt Noreen. You will definitely be missed.

Love Conquers

r-a-c-i-s-m

I don't know what it feels like to be a person of color who has dealt with a lifetime of racism, prejudice and discrimination. However, I do know what it feels like to listen to a friend who has.

My friend shared her fears about her teenager being targeted because of his skin color. She said that in rural Alabama, awful things happen to young black men. They can disappear without a trace, never to be seen again. She added that she and other black parents start teaching their sons at an early age how to behave when out and about.

In regard to law enforcement, their sons are taught always to act with respect, always to keep their hands where they can be seen, and never to make any sudden moves. Let me reiterate that these types of “lifesaving skills” begin when their kids are still very, very young. She told me these things almost 20 years ago when both of our sons were still young teenagers. 

My heart grieved for her as only a mother’s heart could. I never had to consider such things when raising my son. He’s never had to deal with the type of prejudice that her son has dealt with. She informed me of these injustices before the name Trayvon Martin ever hit our national radar. His tragic death was the first time that many white people learned of the extra “precautions” black parents must instill in their kids. 

As a parent, I want to stop the senselessness of it all. But what can a white empty-nester like me possibly do?

One thing I do know is that I don’t want to be insensitive to a person’s plight due to the color of their skin. I’d rather be called to the carpet if someone discerns such ignorance in me. Unfortunately, I haven’t always been aware when someone nearby has had a racial slur thrown at them. 

With that said, I’ve been paying closer attention to the stories told by those affected by racism. Several social-media influencers, who happen to be black, have given me a lot of insight. And I’ve educated myself even more regarding the many issues that divide our nation. I know others have done the same.

Some of those others are Christians who have journeyed to the frontlines of the current protests taking place throughout our nation. Most are much younger than me, yet they possess a wisdom far beyond their years. They’ve watched the power of God move in the midst of these demonstrations. They’ve shared their faith and seen lives changed, suddenly, even among some of the most radical protesters.  

At this moment, I don’t claim to have the solutions for the racial divide in our land. However, there is a book that tells of someone who experienced prejudice and confronted it. That book is the Bible. And that someone is Jesus Christ.

Jesus was a Jew, and the Jewish people have experienced racism for centuries. On top of that, Jesus was raised in Nazareth. Others didn’t think highly of the people from that region as mentioned in the following scripture:

“Philip found Nathanael and said to him, ‘We have found Him of whom Moses in the law, and also the prophets, wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.’  And Nathanael said to him, ‘Can anything good come out of Nazareth?’ Philip said to him, ‘Come and see.’” (John 1:45-46 NKJV)

Philip recognized Jesus as the long-awaited Messiah. And despite Nathanael’s derogatory comment about a Nazarene, Philip urged him to find out for himself if Jesus was the One.

Nathanael did eventually realize who Jesus was. Jesus was the One who came to save all mankind and to set us free from the chains that bind. And that includes the chains of prejudice that divide people. 

Jesus bridged such a divide with a Samaritan woman He encountered at Jacob’s well. He told her things about herself that no ordinary person would have known. He broke through their racial barrier. Touched by the unconditional love of our Savior, the woman left the well and told the townspeople about Jesus. (John 4:1-30)

Just like Jesus, Christians can break down racial barriers also. One way is by correcting—in a loving manner—the people in our own ethnic group who use racist words when describing someone of a different ethnic group. We can also be a beacon of light to others by keeping the biblical command to “love your neighbor as yourself” no matter the color of their skin.

Have a blessed day!

“Then one of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, and saying, ‘Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?’ Jesus said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’”  (Matthew 22:35-39 NKJV)

Two Birds and… an Introvert?

Don’t fly solo.

While bicycling through an empty parking lot, I spotted a massive nest at the top of an industrial light pole, so I pedaled around it in the hope of glimpsing a nest dweller.

On my third pass, I saw movement. Feathers at first, and then the distinct shape of a bird’s head.

The bird, a brown-and-white osprey, perched himself on one of the large branches that rimmed the nest. A slightly smaller female joined him. I made a mental note to take photos of the duo in the near future.

A few weeks later, I sighted a third head visible just above the rim of the nest. A baby osprey opened his beak as his mother dropped food into his mouth.

Within days, I set up my camera several yards from the osprey’s light pole. The male kept eyeing me from the nest as I focused on him through the viewfinder. At one point, he spread his wings, took flight, and soared in a wide arc. He let loose a line of white poop before landing back at home. A bit later, he lifted off and circled again, and then honed in on me.

Was he irritated that I had invaded his space? Did he want to shoo me away? Skedaddling, I took cover beneath a tree in case he intended to poop on me.

After taking many pictures, I decided to search for other photo opportunities at a grassy area near the parking lot.

As I set up my tripod on the grass, a flash of red flew into view and disappeared down a hole in the trunk of a palm tree. A woodpecker with a red mark on his head kept poking his face out of the hole. It was if he wanted me to leave so he could go about his business. I photographed the bird, and then packed up my gear and headed home.

When I thought about the bird encounters, two things came to mind. First, the woodpecker staying inside the tree trunk reminded me of my tendency to hole up. Second, the osprey keeping an eye on me near his home reminded me of my discomfort when my space is invaded. 

I shook my head at the silliness of comparing birds to humans. With that said, please bear with me for a moment as I reveal something about my past.

In my younger years, I spent a majority of my life not being vulnerable in friendships. It’s not that I didn’t have friends. It’s just that I feared vulnerability—the risk of baring one’s soul with the potential of being hurt, emotionally. Yes, just like other kids, I experienced ridicule by opening up my heart during those innocent, tender years.

Consequently, I mismanaged my “alone” time that should’ve been better spent replenishing my heart, soul, body and mind. Without that kind of renewed energy, I was unable to pour into authentic friendships with abandon. I tended to worry about saying or doing things that others might dislike. The fear of being disliked was embedded in me as a toddler. That’s right. A toddler! As a result, I didn’t let people see the real me for decades. It was my way of self-preservation.

And then the Lord rocked my world. He helped me to overcome my fears. He healed me and showed me that the real me is likable.

He also showed me that the abundant life we are created to live can seem elusive to those who struggle with opening up their hearts. He revealed that I was not created with a lone-ranger mentality. That I was never created for a solitary lifestyle.

I still tend to fly solo yet truly enjoy people and socializing. Go figure. Recently during the COVID-19 lockdown, I even wondered if I’m a bit more of an introvert than I give myself credit for being. I have to be mindful of my tendency to hole up like the woodpecker. And the osprey’s irritation with me brought to mind that sometimes I have to shake off my discomfort during those times when I prefer not to have my personal space breached. If I don’t, I might miss the chance to console those who are brokenhearted, wounded, or oppressed. To point them to the one true Healer.

It took me a long time to finally “get” what I didn’t understand as a child and young adult. That I need time by myself to refuel in preparation for engaging with people. To do this thing called life.

God created us to do life together. He hardwired us with a desire for fellowship and relationships. The proof is in the fact that He saw the need in Adam for a helper suitable, so He formed Eve from Adam’s rib.

Have a blessed day!

“The Lord God said, ‘It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.’… So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and… took one of the man’s ribs and… made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man.” (Genesis 2:18-22 NIV)

My Kind of Wanderlust

a country road and godwinks 😉

My guilty pleasure is best described as a kind of wanderlust. Day trips to unknown destinations. You just never know where I'll end up, especially when my camera is along for the ride.

That’s exactly what happened recently when I left the house and began driving inland toward central Florida without an agenda.

Once outside the city limits, the thoroughfare narrowed into a two-lane country road. Baby horses frolicking in a pasture inspired me to pull over and take this photo.

About 30 minutes into my drive, I came to a stop sign at an intersection in the middle of nowhere. I had one of three choices. Turn left and head toward Indiantown. Turn right and head to who knows where. Or continue on the two-lane road in front of me. The pavement directly ahead receded into a canopy of overlapping tree branches. Intrigued, I drove forward on what I would later learn is the Martin Grade Scenic Highway.

Further down the road, I spotted a wooden placard dangling above the entrance of a long driveway. A welcome sign for The Refuge Ranch.

At first, I wondered if the ranch was a sheltering place for rescued horses. An online search revealed that the property is actually a Christian-based facility for women recovering from addiction. A safe haven.

As I continued my drive on the canopied road, I caught a glimpse of three wooden crosses.

Unable to pull over at that precise moment, I spotted a dirt road up ahead. The word selah stenciled on the street sign made me do a double take. 

I turned onto that unpaved road, put my car in park, and let it idle as I sat still and pondered. Why all of a sudden was I coming across biblical things during this particular day trip? Was the hand of providence behind these sightings? 

While my brain absorbed these thoughts, a banner attached to a fence grabbed my attention. 

Printed on the banner was the name Gethsemane Ranch. A scripture from the book of Philippians was noted as well: 

“Press on to the high calling.” (Philippians 3:14)

Needless to say, I was overwhelmed to see in such a short timespan five things found in the Bible—refuge, crosses, selah, a scripture, and Gethsemane (the garden where Jesus was arrested before His crucifixion). I know those roadside fixtures were put in place by Christian people, perhaps for the enjoyment of passing travelers. 

For me, such things are not a coincidence but a godwink. An assurance that the Lord is always for me, with me and guiding me. Even in my wanderlust. 

Have a blessed day!

Fishers in the Storm

Fishermen or fishers of men?

A downpour blanketed the river, yet the fishermen continued to fish from a boat near the shoreline. I had never taken photos during a whiteout but decided to do so at that moment.

After grabbing my camera and attaching the zoom lens, I returned to the glass sliders that showcase the river from the back of the house. One of the men was reeling in his catch. Quickly, I adjusted the camera settings and aimed.

Click. Click. Click.

As I viewed the digital images from the camera's LCD screen, my mind began to formulate my next blogpost. One about fishers of men in the storms of life.

All of us encounter storms. It’s not “if” we will experience trials and tribulations, but “when.” (James 1:2) Once on the other side of such circumstances, we see the trials for what they accomplished—our personal and spiritual growth. We are then able to help and lead others on how to journey through the curveballs thrown at them.

Jesus recognized such leadership qualities in a fisherman whom He encountered at the start of His ministry.

“And Jesus, walking by the Sea of Galilee, saw two brothers, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. Then He said to them, ‘Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.’ They immediately left their nets and followed Him.” (Matthew 4:18-20 NKJV)

Peter was one of Jesus’ first disciples. Many stories describe him as a colorful character who most likely possessed the equally colorful vocabulary and mannerisms of those in the fishing trade. As he traveled with Jesus, he would have witnessed the Lord’s humility and sacrificial love on a daily basis. 

This former fisherman would stumble many times as his old nature became more like Christ’s. He would be tested, disciplined and refined. And because of fear, he would even deny knowing Jesus. Not once, but three times. (John 18:16-18; 18:25-27) Through his human frailty, Peter would be an example to others that anyone can be forgiven and become a righteous man.

Peter would bring many people to Christ, particularly Jews like himself. However, the Gentiles were another matter. Like many Jewish people, Peter thought of Gentiles as common and unclean. Nevertheless, a vision from heaven would change his perspective. 

In that vision, Peter saw animals that Gentiles ate but that Jews avoided. A voice said, “Rise, Peter, kill and eat.” When Peter responded that he had never eaten anything common or unclean, the voice spoke again. “What God has cleansed you must not call common.” (Acts 10:12-15) Basically, God revealed to Peter that he was not to limit his ministry to Jewish people.

As a result of that divine revelation, Peter would keep company with Gentiles. He would teach that just like the Jews, “common” men also had access to a relationship with the Most High. Additionally, Peter paved the way for the Apostle Paul to focus his ministry on the Gentile nations. 

Yes, this former fisherman would stumbled yet become one of the pillars of the early Christian church. A fisher of men for the kingdom of God.

Have a blessed day!

Try a Little Kindness

Compassion goes a long way during these trying times.

After weeks of being quarantined due to the COVID-19 pandemic, I needed to escape to a place where I could photograph the beauty of nature from somewhere other than outside the backdoor. A place where others wouldn't be.

I decided to drive to my dentist’s office for the photo op. I know, I know. A dental office is an unlikely place to whip out my camera, but there’s a reason why I chose to go there. 

During my last dental visit, I noticed finches on the other side of a window where I was sitting. The songbirds fluttered to a bird feeder in a garden just beyond the glass pane.

My dentist told me about a time when a National Geographic photographer sat on a bench in the garden taking pictures of those same birds. When I revealed my passion for photography, he invited me to stop by the garden anytime.

What better way to venture out during the quarantine than by going someplace where other people aren’t—outside a shutdown medical office.

As I took these photos, other birds visited the feeder, too. A cardinal. A bluejay. And even a non-avian species—squirrels.

Watching the various creatures congregate at the bird feeder brought to mind how humans come together to feel connected. To have fellowship with one another. 

However, socializing has been discouraged during these trying times. We’ve isolated and self-quarantined for the protection of ourselves and others. 

Such health practices occurred in ancient times, too. The Bible notes how people avoided those with leprosy in particular. Lepers lived outside of cities, usually alone. They were the social outcasts of their day. To add insult to injury, they were required to warn of their “uncleanliness” to anyone headed in their direction. (Leviticus 13:45-46 NKJV).

I experienced this same type of leeriness toward me as concern for the Coronavirus began to escalate. You see, about two weeks before my hospital began turning away nonessential personnel, acquaintances I encountered after each workday stepped away from me. I saw firsthand the anxiety in their eyes as I came into close proximity. Their worries centered on possible exposure to the virus through me. Their concerns were understandable since I’m the hospital’s newborn photographer and touch the babies as well as interact with their parents. Hence, I had a tiny glimpse into how lepers most likely felt when others avoided them back when Jesus walked the earth.

Jesus had no fear of men. He had no fear of government. (Matthew 22:15-22) And He certainly had no fear of diseases. Scripture documents one of His encounters with a man who was afflicted with leprosy.

“Now a leper came to Him, imploring Him, kneeling down to Him and saying to Him, ‘If You are willing, You can make me clean.’ Then Jesus, moved with compassion, stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, ‘I am willing; be cleansed.’ As soon as He had spoken, immediately the leprosy left him, and he was cleansed.” (Mark 1:40-42 NKJV)

Take note of Jesus’ first reaction when this diseased man approached Him. He was “moved with compassion.” (Mark 1:41) Compassion drove our Lord to reach out and touch the leper in order to heal him. And just like Jesus, we have the opportunity to react with compassion as well. 

Yes, we need to adhere to social distancing, but let’s do so with kindness. Be patient with the elderly man shuffling down the supermarket aisle in front of you. Be courteous to the overwhelmed cashier who just handled a cash transaction with a patron not wearing gloves. And take time to acknowledge a stranger who may be quarantined by herself. 

Even though you may be unable to comfort someone with a human touch, reach out to that person with a smile. Your lips may be hidden behind a mask, yet your smile can still be seen through your eyes. 

Let’s all be kind and compassionate during these trying times.

Have a blessed day.