Tag Archives: Storms

Bending, But Not Breaking!

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A recent blast of really cold air, complete with a snow, brought home to me a great principle . . . learning to “Bend” and not “Break”!
As I was photographing some Short-eared Owls, some nearby grasses caught my eye. With the cold wind humming and snow beginning to cling, these grasses were bending, but not breaking, and I thought, what a great lesson for my life.

Circumstances are often not exactly what we’d prefer yet holding to your roots and giving some with the circumstances allows us to stand firm, even in that storm.

I was reminded of a young man named Daniel. His country was overrun by a savage enemy and he ended up being taken captive and hauled off to a very different set of circumstances. Yet, Daniel held to his roots, which for Daniel was his faith in the Great God of our Bible.

If you need a good read, check out “Daniel” in your Bible and pay particular attention to this young man who “bends, but doesn’t break”! He is one of my inspirations in the Word of God. I can guess he might become one of your inspirations too.

Back to this chase to photograph some Short-eared Owls, well, they too were bending with the storm but not breaking as they kept to their roots of hunting and then finding a buffer from this wintery blast.

Let me encourage you to be firm in those roots which will sustain you in the storms which come. It’s the truth of the God’s Word which grounds our lives. Here’s the place to start . . . John 3.16,

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.

Here’s some of God’s Truth to take hold of when the storms do blow . . . 1Cor 10.13,

No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.

2Cor 4.16-18,

Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Just A Little Rest

Short-eared Owl

Short-eared Owl

The Hunt – Short-eared Owl

 

Behind The Camera!

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Photographers like to talk about what happens “behind the camera,” meaning photographic skills is preparing for a photograph. That’s well and good, and definitely an area of worthy focus.

But, I’d point to another “Behind the Camera” event that’s equally important. Let me explain . . .

I was recently photographing a nice sunset in the Badlands National Park and had some things going for a good image. There were some showers and mild thunderstorms in the area. These always seem to offer drama in the sky, and, I was ready. I’ve worked to develop a discipline while photographing to turn around and look “Behind the Camera,” like the other direction! It’s easy when you’re focused on a subject to forget there are other things to consider.

When I turned around, this is what greeted me . . .

Viewpoint Ahead

Viewpoint Ahead

Lesson learned!

The next evening I thought I’d work for a sunset as there seemed to be some decent clouds forming in the west, even a small shower here and there. Focused clearly on this developing sunset, my “lesson learned” dawned on me as the few showers were beginning to find my location. Well, when I turned around this evening I was nearly overwhelmed! Admittedly, I was a little late in turning so by the time I moved my tripod and got reset, things were fading some.

Here’s what was “Behind the Camera” on this occasion . . .

Some Days Just End Well

Some Days Just End Well

Not only is it a good lesson to refrain from being so focused on what’s before you that you forget other things in your life, it’s a good lesson for photographers too. Remember what’s “Behind the Camera”!

We all get too wrapped up in the job, the game, the digital device in front of us, we can easily forget other very, possibly more important, things that seem behind what’s consuming us! Things like your husband or wife, your family, your friends easily float to the fore. And, the most important thing to keep refreshed in our thinking, our hearts, our lives, even when before us seems so great, is the Lord Jesus who loves us. He even has some words for us. If Jesus is new to you, read His Word and start with the Gospel of John . . . He has something just for you. Don’t let it get missed because you’re too focused upon what’s before!