Butterfly Brilliance

I remember clearly the peaceful, bright Sunday afternoon in Gageum-ri, South Korea where this picture was taken. It was not necessarily the taking of the picture that I remember so clearly as it was the location at which I took it.

You see, after church on that spring morning earlier this year, the Moon family invited me to go with them on a field trip. And this was not your typical outing. It was an eye-opening, soul-stirring excursion to the Demilitarized Zone between North and South Korea. As I stood gazing across the Han River marveling in the fact that I, an American with innumerable freedoms, honorable responsibilities and the independence to travel when and where I pleased could stand with overwhelming tranquility while looking on a land of complete oppression and poverty, I couldn’t help but remember the words of Scripture so applicably written: “If thou seest the oppression of the poor, and violent perverting of judgment and justice in a province, marvel not at the matter: for He that is higher than the highest regardeth; and there be higher than they” (Ecclesiastes 5:8).

The colorful flowers covering the landscape that so attractively complemented the lively swallowtails flittering about in their habitual routine stood in stark contrast to the poignant mood of the place. However, there is hope even for places like North Korea. As is seen in history, and as Abigail Adams pointed out in this letter to her husband during the early stages of the birth of freedom as we know it today, “The race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong; but the God of Israel is He that giveth strength and power unto His people. Trust in Him at all times, ye people, pour out your hearts before Him; God is a refuge for us.”

And He wills to be a refuge for all. This message of hope was one of the main reasons I chose this picture to be one of only 12 pictures chosen for Lenspiration’s 2012 Calendar, now available for purchase online at Lenspiration.com.

I ran across this quote the other day, and thought it so appropriate for the season that it deserved to be posted. What kind of “giver” are you?

When it comes to giving, some people stop at nothing. –Unknown Source

It reminds me of Proverbs 11:24, a verse I ready shortly after running across the quote.

There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty. –Proverbs 11:24

Let us be like the waterfall, ever flowing, ever giving; never thinking that it’s faithful constancy is what clearly attracts the beholders of it’s beauty.

Yesterday I spent the late afternoon at Lighthouse Park on the southern shores of New Haven, Connecticut. The old lighthouse which once guided ships through Long Island Sound is no longer in use, yet it stands today as a symbol of the importance of instruction and direction in all areas of life.

“My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.” –Proverbs 4:20-22 

As I was reading Psalm 97 this morning, I couldn’t help but think of this picture, taken just a few nights ago here in the Northwoods.

“The heavens declare His [God’s] righteousness, and all the people see His glory. Confounded be all they that serve graven images, that boast themselves of idols: worship Him, all ye gods.” –Psalm 97:6-7

For instructions on photographing star trails, view the September 2010 Pic of the Month.

Photography is so much fun! It forces me to do things I would never otherwise want to do, takes me places I would otherwise never get to go, and introduces me to people I would otherwise never know.

Last week, at the Indianapolis Conference was the perfect example of this truth as I was once again asked to provide the children’s programs slideshows at the end of the Conference. In putting it together, I put myself in a few awkward situations; but there was nothing like the thrill of working with a small network of dedicated photographers rushing to meet the final deadline to see a finished project projected on the screen at the last minute!

Is it not the same in our work for the Lord? One anonymous poet made the profound correlation when he wrote:

I would rather stumble a thousand times
Attempting to reach a goal,
Than to sit in a crowd
In my weather-proof shroud,
A shriveling and self-satisfied soul.

I would rather be doing and daring
All of my error-filled days,
Than watching and waiting
And dying,
Smug in my perfect ways.

I would rather wonder and blunder,
Stumbling blindly ahead,
Than for safety’s sake
Lest I make a mistake
Be sure, be safe, be dead.

Just a heads-up: the Lord has worked it out for me to be a guide on a young men’s Journey to the Heart over the next week. Therefore, I will be unable to post anything here on Lenspiration.com until after the 1st of August. I’d appreciate your prayers for discernment, meekness, and genuine enthusiasm for the things of God!

One must never focus on that which is temporal to the degree that it distracts him from investing in that which is eternal.

Just outside of Knoxville, an overpass crosses Interstate 75 at the top of a very large hill. Because I had been on the road for several hours, I decided to take the exit, stop on the overpass and see if it was high enough to see the mountain ranges in the surrounding area. Yes, it was high enough, but there wasn’t much of a view.

I put on my flashers, jumped out of the car, and walked around looking for a good overlook. The mountains were there, but it just wasn’t the right spot. That is when a Jeep drove up and the window rolled down to reveal a friendly local who had evidently seen me carrying a camera. “If you drive up the road over there” she said in a southern accent pointing to the small road that wound up beside the highway, “it’s a great spot for pictures.” This was a friendly surprise! I thanked her and hopped in my car to drive over to where she had pointed. What a vista it was!

This occurrence was a good motivation for me to be specific in giving the location of where I find good pictures. Who knows who will be blessed, as I was, by taking a little extra time to give a friendly piece of experience!

I do not generally think of this blog as a journal. It is more a place to share adventures, tips, insights, experiences, and encouragement for fellow photographers as they journey the same steep slopes of improving their photography. Therefore, I hope my recent long absence has not been a disappointment to anyone.

Perhaps I should have mentioned this earlier, but the tripod I broke last month was still under warranty, so Manfrotto Repair kindly fixed it for me. It was great
service . . . once I called them to hurry up a bit. After not hearing from them for
two weeks, I called them up last Monday and told them I needed the tripod by Friday. They said “No problem” and told me it would arrive by Thursday. Well, it arrived on Wednesday. And it’s just like new. There is much to be grateful for.

Most people are happy when spring begins to appear. But one sad thing about spring coming is that all the snow melts. Then it rains. And rains. And then, because it’s really still winter, it gets cold again and everything turns to ice. Most people are unhappy about that.

But there is always two ways of looking at things. I like ice because it’s cool stuff to take pictures of. For example, I was hiking through the woods the other day, and I couldn’t believe how beautiful the forest was: every twig was covered in ice and the sun was setting the entire forest to shimmering and dancing in it’s light!

Or were the twigs covered in ice? Sky is always richer blue looking away from the sun, so I turned around to look for better color in my pictures . . . there in front of me was the ugly brown forest. I couldn’t believe it. Same forest, two different levels of beauty, wholly dependent on perspective.