To Be

“We mostly spend [our] lives conjugating three verbs: to Want, to Have, and to Do. Craving, clutching, and fussing, on the material, political, social, emotional, intellectual–even on the religious–plane, we are kept in perpetual unrest: forgetting that none of these verbs have any ultimate significance, except so far as they are transcended by and included in, the fundamental verb, to Be: and that Being, not wanting, having and doing, is the essence of a spiritual life.” (p. 20)
(Evelyn Underhill. The Spiritual Life. Harrisburg, Pennsylvania: Morehouse Publishing, 1937)

Beyond Words

I am finding myself in a season where I don’t feel I have much to say.  That can be a problem when you are managing 2 blogs.  My passion for photography seems to have come up at the right time.  I seem to be expressing more through capturing images rather than stringing words together.

Speaking of capturing images…I wanted to share with you the link to my new photography blog.  Insert drum roll…..ta da…!  You can click HERE to see it.  I have begun to post some of the portraits I have have been taking for friends, as well as other shots that I think are fun or interesting.  You can also click the link for “gem helen photography” to the right under “blogroll.”  And don’t forget to leave comments.

I just posted some photos from my trip to Rogers Gardens this morning.  Every once in a while it is good to just get out and experience beauty.  I am finding that my soul needs beauty right now.  It is how I am taking a deep breath.  I hope you enjoy some of what I experienced this morning on my stroll through the garden.

Here are a couple of “teaser” shots from the photo blog.

A Stroll Through the Garden

This morning I took a personal field trip to Rogers Gardens.  I haven’t been there for about 10 years.  As I strolled through the aisles of flowers, plants, trees and herbs, the smell of beauty filled the air.  There was quiet music playing in the background.  Color and texture everywhere.  I walked slowly.  I breathed deeply.  It was good.  I could see why, after God created the earth, He said, “It is good.”  I experienced a bit of that this morning.  Here are some shots.

Happy April Fools Day!

I don’t feel creative enough this morning to come up with some gag.  So I thought I would just share some scripture about foolishness.  Seemed more appropriate.  Be encouraged!

^{1 Corinthians 1:25-31}

“For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength.  [Friends], think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, ²⁹so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: “Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.”