thoughts and musings – Page 19 – LLOYD'S LENS PHOTOGRAPHY LLC

Rust

I was taught that in order to be art, an image must show the passage of time. Perhaps that has something to do with my being attracted to old barns and cars that have been left to rot away in the middle of a open field. Time is the thing that we’re all born with but never can hold. Not even with iron spikes and steel clamps. Day after day and night after night the elements slowly reclaim the iron. Not even heavy steel bolts and clamps can resist the entropy ( the idea that all things move towards disorder) of the universe. The rust will always come.

Scientists say that our universe should not exist. The nature of the universe is such that energy is easily lost but not easily gained. The implication is that something or someone is adding energy to keep it going.

We’re made of tough stuff. But even as strong as we are our bodies along with our minds and spirits require maintenance to keep the corruption away. Some days I feel like Superman! Other days I say that the Man Of Steel is showing some rust. On those latter days I have to seek out the energy source re-establish order in my little part of the universe.

Image was taken in Glen Farris West Virginia. Never disturb railroad hardware that you may find near the tracks. It’s actually theft.

Life More Abundantly

Color Photography

John 10:10

“The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”
King James Version (KJV)

If we simply define abundant life as living forever we are cheating ourselves out of blessings. Abundant defined as existing or available in large quantities; plentiful. But how do you define life? There’s a scientific definition. “organisms maintain homeostasis, are composed of cells, undergo metabolism, can grow, adapt to their environment, respond to stimuli, and reproduce. …“. But that cold laboratory life is merely biology. It can apply just as equally to a slime which has no dreams and ambitions. Life is energy in action. A dynamic flow body, mind and spirit. Science defines energy as the ability to do work. By implication abundant life from God is the ability to do work for God. Like batteries we fill up and release our energy into the world. Like a battery we must recharge on a daily basis. Our energy supply is plentiful and always available.

Overcoming

encouragement

I was taking portraits for a friend last year at a track and field event. It was a nice overcast day. Perfect for outdoor portraits. As usual I was challenging myself to push the envelope on my skills and the competition provides plenty of opportunities. I was never a person who could compete in feats of agility and I’m always fascinated by the hurdles. I was a large framed man by age 14. 6 feet 3 inches tall and 250 pounds of muscle that could not jump. Needless to say that I found the petite young lady pictured here quiet impressive with her skills. Shortly after the picture was taken another wave of athletes came through gracefully bounding over the obstacles. I heard a voice behind me comment that she wished she could jump as well as the others. I turned to see the girl in picture. She had never saw herself competing. She didn’t know how well she did on the same course.

Most people are stronger than they know. Most people have never seen themselves through the eyes of another.

Let me tell you now that you were born to be a champion! Just because you have not seen yourself as a champion doesn’t mean that you’re not winning.

Maybe you’re like me. Maybe you don’t jump well. That s okay. Jumping just isn’t your competition. My sport was American Football. I could tackle and protect the quarterback. The jumpers didn’t always do well in my competition. Maybe you’re not an athlete at all. Well, I’ll bet your smart, funny and talented in other ways.

Whatever it is I want to know that you’re just as capable of success as anyone else. The rest is just practice and dedication to the goal.

I never planned to publish this image. But all day today I felt like God was telling me that someone needs to be encouraged. There’s a hurdle in your life that you don’t think you can overcome. God wants you to know that He gave you talent and abilities to succeed. Just practice and prepare. When it’s time to jump you’re gonna make it.

Sunday… A day of hope

Back and White Photography, Church, encouragement, West Virginia

Okay, so I have written this and started over.

Then I didn’t like the way it sounded so I erased it and started over.

But, my writing wasn’t perfect so I deleted and started over.

And once again it wasn’t making sense so I started over.

Eventually I realized what God was trying to point out to me. Sunday is about a chance to start over. To delete the mistakes and have a fresh start. Christianity is about having the opportunity to allow Jesus Christ to erase all our sin and let us start over. It’s not just on Sundays, it’s every hour of every day for as long as it takes to be restored. That is the hope we celebrate on Sundays. That’s the hope we live with every day.

Image was taken in Deepwater West Virginia which is in Fayette County.

Crossing Over

Color Photography, Thoughts and Musing, West Virginia

There are many crossings in this world. Places where one leg of life’s journey ends and the next one begins. Human beings are a funny lot. We dream about moving forward into adventure but don’t want to leave the familiar behind. We can’t wait to graduate from school but spend the rest of our lives in nostalgia.

I occasionally pull out a playlist of music from the 80s and play the roll of a silly middle-aged man for my twenty something and thirty something coworkers. I recount the days and tell the stories of the times that formed who I am today. It’s entirely for entertainment purposes. The truth is that our glory days are ahead of us not behind us. We need to take the next step if we want to achieve our full potential. We need to trust the bridge and cross over into that new territory.

The image above was taken at Hawks Nest State Park in West Virginia.