Daily Photo Parable

Reaching for the Sky

Photo and Commentary ©2024 by Russell Jurgensen
Thursday, March 21, 2024

With a rare string of blue-sky days, this Tulip Tree seems to be reaching for the sky.

It made me think about the things we reach for. In the United States Declaration of Independence, one of the rights includes the phrase, “the pursuit of happiness.” So, happiness is one of the things we reach for. More specifically, some other good things we might reach for are knowledge, health, and belonging. Some other things that could be bad when in excess are money, control, and fame.

From Matthew 5, some things that Jesus wants us to reach for include meekness, purity, peace, and mercy. We could think of other positive things to reach for including bravery, thoughtfulness, determination, and cheerfulness. If we think really hard, we might consider how reaching for love might encompass all these things.

Let’s reach for the sky as we learn how love makes us stronger and draws us closer to God.

Spring Has Sprung

Photo and Commentary ©2024 by Darren Milam
Wednesday, March 20, 2024

Technically, yesterday was the first day of spring, but today is the first FULL day. I know this because it’s my son’s birthday. For many reasons, spring is my favorite time of the year. One of the biggest factors is that, living in the Pacific Northwest, we’ve been trudging through months of dark, damp weather for the past few months. When spring has finally sprung, we see the first glimpse of warmth and repeating sunshine, of new growth and colors that have been dormant for far too long. Those colors, that new growth God gives us, it brings joy and smiles to all.

As you can see in this image, God is good. God created the colors of these flowers and the distinctive marks on this Eastern Tiger Swallowtail butterfly. For me, spring (especially in the Pacific NW) is like creation. New life, beautiful patterns, and colors – a fresh start. God is good.

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. (Genesis 1:1 & 2)

From a dark, bleak, empty space, God created all we can see and enjoy. His powers aren’t just limited to creation of the planet and all its existence. No, He holds the power to create and shape new beginnings – in all of us. No matter what we are going through, whatever we are facing, God is hovering over us – waiting for us to ask for His help. Just like when spring finally is sprung on us, it brings so much happiness and joy. God is so much more, and all we must do is accept Him. Amen.

Passerini’s Tanager

Photo and Commentary ©2024 by Robert Howson
Tuesday, March 19, 2024

They used to be grouped together under the appropriate title, the Scarlet-rumped Tanager, but now they’ve been divided into two distinct species, Passerini’s Tanager, and Cherrie’s Tanager. Which would be all well and good, except in their striking red and black plumage they look identical. The primary difference is that Passerini’s is found on the Caribbean side of Costa Rica while Cherrie’s is found on the Pacific side, a convenient distinction for all except those who are lost. But how does one know there are really two different kinds of birds, and not just one of the group who, like the bear who went over the mountain to see what he could see, had the urge to explore?

From an observational perspective, the answer is, you can’t. That is, if you elect to look only at the males. There is a more notable difference between the females of the two species, however. The differences there are subtle, but at least they are discernible.

In our cosmopolitan society today, the words of Deuteronomy 7:3 seem strangely archaic and out of place. Why would God instruct the Children of Israel not to intermarry with the nations surrounding them? Was He so ethnocentric that He couldn’t stand a little diversity? “Do not intermarry with them. Do not give your daughters to their sons or take their daughters for your sons.” The following verse provides us with His reason. “For they will turn your children away from following me to serve other gods…” (NIV) We’re so familiar with this line of logic we run the danger of not really hearing what is being said. So, instead, let’s couch this in the terminology used in the previous paragraph which dealt with birds. It appears as though God was concerned they would lose their distinctiveness, that which made them identifiable as followers of YHWH. If they lost that distinction, it would be more difficult, if not impossible, for others to discern the difference God wished to make in the people who elected to follow Him. If that ability to distinguish between two species of tanagers carries significance for us as humans, wouldn’t you think it might not be appropriate for God to be concerned about that same attribute among His own children?

Moon Snail

Photo and Commentary ©2024 by Cheryl Boardman
Monday, March 18, 2024

I saw this moon snail at Point Robinson Park on Maury Island several years ago. I had a great day looking at all of the intertidal critters as well as the bird life around there! There were even some wildflowers and on a clear day, there are great views of Mt Rainier.

The moon snail is the largest snail you’ll see in the Puget Sound area. Apparently, there are three different species here (the Arctic, the Pale and the Lewis’ moon snail) but you need to see the opposite side of the shell to what is pictured to determine which type it is. (Moon snails can be as large as 5 – 6 inches.)

You may be more familiar with its gray egg casings which look like a collar of gray sand that stands up by itself. There can be millions of eggs between the layers of sand which are held together by mucous.

You may have picked up what looked like a perfect clam shell only to find a round hole drilled into it. That would be the work of the moon snail as that’s how it is able to get to its prey.

LORD, you have made many things;
with your wisdom you made them all.
The earth is full of your riches.
Look at the sea, so big and wide,
with creatures large and small that cannot be counted.
Psalm 104:24-25 (NCV)

Passing

Photo and Commentary ©2024 by Shelley Schurch
Sunday, March 17, 2024

I saw this shop window sign in passing – in swiftly passing, so I wasn’t even sure I’d read it correctly but had no time to look back to check.

I was on a mission. We had to find my husband’s keys. We’d taken a day off, and it had been a lovely day, browsing through used books and other treasures in a small town on a sunny afternoon. First we’d explored together; then we’d meandered in different directions.

He phoned to tell me that his keys had slipped off what he thought was a secure clip, and he was in the process of retracing his steps through town. He urged me to keep on with my browsing; this was apparently an informational call only.

I told him there was no way I could continue my lighthearted strolling and would immediately find him, and then help him find those keys. We each prayed for success, and then I took off at a brisk clip down the street in his direction.

That’s when I hurried past the show window with its admonitory and encouraging message. A few minutes later my phone rang, and my husband reported success – he had found his keys!

We then found each other, and walked back up the street together. “I want to find a sign I saw a minute ago,” I told him. “I want to check to see if I read it correctly when I whipped by.”

Yes, I had:

have a little faith
THIS TOO SHALL PASS

It was good to read it leisurely now, while rejoicing that our key crisis had passed, and the lost was found. We thanked the Lord and resumed our explorations.

But the sign stayed with me, as words often do. I remembered how I’d heard the phrase, “This, too, shall pass,” as I was growing up, and adopted it for use when I was in the dentist’s chair. I dreaded these appointments because I’d been fitted with wire braces that hurt when they were twisted and tightened. I silently repeated to myself, “This, too, shall pass,” to help me bear the pain.

I know I have used this phrase often since those junior high school years, and, more recently, this variation: “It won’t always be like this.”

We seem to be in a season of memorial services, with a total of six this month and the next; a combination of in-person and online. This many services has prompted me to ponder how we talk about people who have died.

Perhaps to soften the stark word, “died,” we often speak of people as having passed, or passed away, or passed on, or even passed over. The latter two phrases hint at the speaker’s belief about death.

Much more important than my musing on the phrases we use is my longing for all passing away to pass away! I yearn for the Day when the Lord returns, and sin and sickness and cemeteries will be no more.

The Lord understands our longing, and meets us in our grief with these words from Revelation 21:4-5:

And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.

Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.”

Trinity Rescue

Photo and Commentary ©2024 by Maylan Schurch
Sabbath, March 16, 2024

Almost two years ago I posted a Daily Photo Parable blog called “Trinity Tree.” I included a photo of the tree you see above, and I pointed out how the single trunk has split into three smaller ones. I suggested that even though the Bible’s Trinity doctrine (that God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit are all equally God) can’t be easily or simply explained using parables, we know Scripture says it’s true.

Scene change. It’s Tuesday of this week. I’m taking a brisk post-breakfast walk, and it suddenly starts to rain on me, and this downpour is also accompanied by BB-size hail. I was getting soaked!

Suddenly I remembered that I was only half a block away from the Trinity tree! I hurried over, ducked under it, and was immediately sheltered from the storm. (Since this proved to be no mere passing shower, I phoned Shelley to come and get me, and she chauffeured me back to our cozy home. And later that day I drove over and took the above photo.)

The Bible teachings about the Trinity are very clear—the divine trio exist not merely as a doctrine to be studied. Each of the Three is deeply involved in sheltering us from the effects of sin. Take a few minutes to study the Bible texts at the following four links to discover what I mean:

https://www.bibleinfo.com/en/topics/trinity
https://www.bibleinfo.com/en/topics/god
https://www.bibleinfo.com/en/topics/jesus-christ
https://www.bibleinfo.com/en/topics/holy-spirit

Feather Pen

Photo and Commentary ©2024 by Maylan Schurch
Friday, March 15, 2024

Late last month I stopped at a thrift store and took a swing through the office supply section. I stopped at the display you see above. I’d never seen anything like this at a thrift store before.

As you can see, this is a quill pen, made with a beautiful white feather. Actually, it’s a hybrid pen—the feather provides the nostalgia, but the pen point is metal. There’s even a little bottle of ink into which to dip the point.

To me, what’s poignant isn’t the pen and its paraphernalia, but the inscription on the box lid. Do you see the white box to the right of the word “Out”? I added that box to cover up a name and a pair of initials. Because that’s not a period after “Out,” but a comma. This inscription wasn’t mass-produced, but individually ordered by the giver of the pen. There’s a name, and then a pair of initials. The name is the pen’s recipient, and the initials belong to the giver.

There’s another piece of poignancy too. The pen is pristine, and may never have been used. And this set is no longer a treasured keepsake from an admirer, but a $2.99 item in a thrift shop.

Who knows what happened? Maybe the “favorite writer” uses not pens but keyboards to craft poetry or prose. Maybe the admiration wasn’t two-way. Or the recipient may be no longer alive.

Whatever the case, writing is important. God thinks so. “In the beginning,” John 1 begins, “was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” Verse 14 of the same chapter tells us who the Word is: “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.”

Words are important. Jesus thinks so: “For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” (Matthew 12:37 NIJV) So however we create words, whether by speaking or writing, it’s serious business. Check out more Bible truth about words, at the link below:

https://www.bibleinfo.com/en/topics/words

Blog Archives

Moon Snail

Photo and Commentary ©2024 by Cheryl Boardman Monday, March 18, 2024 I saw this moon snail at Point Robinson Park on Maury Island several years ago. I had a great day looking at all of the intertidal critters as well as the bird life around there! There were even some...

Passing

Photo and Commentary ©2024 by Shelley Schurch Sunday, March 17, 2024 I saw this shop window sign in passing – in swiftly passing, so I wasn’t even sure I’d read it correctly but had no time to look back to check. I was on a mission. We had to find my husband’s keys....

Trinity Rescue

Photo and Commentary ©2024 by Maylan Schurch Sabbath, March 16, 2024 Almost two years ago I posted a Daily Photo Parable blog called “Trinity Tree.” I included a photo of the tree you see above, and I pointed out how the single trunk has split into three smaller ones....

Feather Pen

Photo and Commentary ©2024 by Maylan Schurch Friday, March 15, 2024 Late last month I stopped at a thrift store and took a swing through the office supply section. I stopped at the display you see above. I’d never seen anything like this at a thrift store before. As...

Late Snow

Photo and Commentary ©2024 by Russell Jurgensen Thursday, March 14, 2024 This picture was taken almost two weeks ago near Castle Rock, Washington. For a few hours it looked like a lot of snow. I didn't feel like going outside to check the temperature, so I used the...

Diversity

Photo and Commentary ©2024 by Darren Milam Wednesday, March 13, 2024 Nowadays, we hear a lot about the word “diversity.” It's usually in the context of companies or teams lacking in diversity, pointing out the fact that there are plenty of places (in life or in...

Montezuma Oropendola II

Photo and Commentary ©2024 by Robert Howson Tuesday, March 12, 2024 When comparing lifestyles seen in nature to those carried out by man, there is enough variation so that almost any parallel one is looking for can be found. Those who believe the world should be run...

He Paid the Price

Photo and Commentary ©2024 by Cheryl Boardman Monday, March 11, 2024 I saw this sheep in a pen at Kelsey Creek Park several years ago. It was pretty safe in this pen and not likely to get out and wander off. I have heard about sheep in Australia who have wandered off...

Flower Growth

Photo and Commentary ©2024 by Maylan Schurch Sabbath and Sunday, March 9 and 10, 2024 A couple of days ago I paused in front of a gardening store to snap this perfect little parable. Jesus used both seeds and maturing plants as subjects for His own parables. In...

Easy Washer

Photo and Commentary ©2024 by Maylan Schurch Friday, March 9, 2024 Earlier this week beside an antique store I noticed this rusty little tub—and the proud statement on a little metal tag near the bottom: “Easy Washer.” I should have taken the photo from a different...