Daily Photo Parable

Photo and Commentary ©2026 by Robert Howson
Tuesday, August 18, 2026

An unusual and less than common wildflower, Pterospora, is commonly known as Pinedrops or Woodland Pinedrops.  Its common name reflects the fact that it is most frequently found in coniferous forests, especially those containing pine trees, while the “drops” part of the name is a reference to the small, urn-shaped flowers that hang down from an unbranched stem.

Unlike most plants, Pinedrops produce little or no chlorophyll and therefore are not green and do not conduct photosynthesis.  Leaves, where photosynthesis takes place in most plants, are absent or reduced to scale-like structures found mostly on the lower stem.  Instead, they rely on a mycorrhizal fungus, closely associated with pine trees, for nutrients.  Its stems are noticeably hairy and sticky to the touch which enables it to trap small insects.  Enzymes then break these insects down which helps provide nitrogen to the plant.

If plants could reason it would be easy to see why Pinedrops might be tempted to complain that they were not treated fairly and therefore unable to make it in a hostile world.  But the truth is, they have been given all they need to survive, even if it is done differently than in other plants.  Paul reminds us of how much more that is true for you and me.  “And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19 ESV)

Photo and Commentary ©2026 by Maylan Schurch
Sunday and Monday, August 16 and 17, 2026

Sunday morning during a mile-long walk through our neighborhood I spotted this Chevy Silverado pickup with the word HESED as its license plate “number.” It’s a Hebrew word often used in the Old Testament to give details about God’s love. In the Wikipedia entry below, you’ll see the different ways it has been translated.

From the Wikipedia entry on chesed (also spelled hesed):

“[Hesed] occurs 248 times in the Hebrew Bible. In the majority of cases (149 times), the (KJV) translation is mercy, following the Septuagint (LXX) eleos. Less frequent translations are: kindness (40 times), lovingkindness (30 times), goodness (12 times), kindly (five times), merciful (four times), favour (three times) and good, goodliness, pity (once each). Only two instances of the noun in its negative sense are in the text, translated reproach in Proverbs 14:34, and wicked thing in Leviticus 20:17.”

As you can see above, “mercy” is the way hesed has been most often translated, at least in the King James Version. Click the link below for three Bible passages where God’s mercy is described.

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

Photo and Commentary ©2026 by Maylan Schurch
Sabbath and Sunday, August 15 and 16, 2026

In these days of social media, the old phrase “15 minutes of fame” is hopelessly out of date. I think that the deformed racoon whom Seattle Instagram user Kaina Hall spotted and promptly named “Jimothy” (because “He looked like a Jimothy to me”), has generated a whole lot more fame than a quarter-hour’s worth.

Jimothy, who has his own Wikipedia page (click here to look him up for a lot of great info), doesn’t seem to be in pain, nor to be suffering any other physical problems aside from his deformity. Since his discovery this July, he’s been hailed as a forthright example of someone who wastes little time glooming around about how’s he’s so different from others of his species. He seemingly shrugs this off, something which a lot of even mildly disadvantaged humans seem to find more difficult.

I found this delightful bookmark (see photo above) at our public library a few days ago. Aside from its heartening message, there’s no indication who had it printed, but it’s true.

And another truth is that the God who keeps close track of sparrows and human hair-follicles loves Jimothy too. Proverbs 12:19 [NKJV] reminds us that “A righteous man regards the life of his animal,” and our Creator cares as well.

After all, the Bible says that “God is love.” To review several verses about how important love is to God, click the link just below:
https://www.bibleinfo.com/en/topics/love

Photo and Commentary ©2026 by Maylan Schurch
Friday, August 14, 2026

Earlier this week, outside a barbershop, I noticed this chess game set up. In college I played chess just enough to hold my own (but not against a good player), so as I studied the pieces above, I could tell that the game was in its early stages.

White, I could tell, had opened by moving the king’s pawn out a couple of spaces, a standard opening. Black then cautiously moved a pawn one space. White had then moved his knight into play. Black had moved another pawn out, opening up a route for a bishop. So far a fairly ordinary, cautious couple of openings, which I had used back in the day.

But I glanced left and right and saw no players. The game had started well, but the human minds behind the moves had departed. Maybe a haircut opportunity had arisen for one, or the other may have remembered an appointment.

In Galatians 5, Paul is laboring with some Christians who were carefully instructed that Jesus has paid for our sins with His death, and that nothing we can do to enhance our chances at salvations. But they were falling back into legalism. So Paul told them:

Galatians 5:7: You ran well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth?

In other words, Galatians, you were following God’s rules for the game, but all of a sudden you’d given up! (If you read the rest of the chapter, you’ll find the inspired solution to behaving well, from the inside out.)

“Have patience,” Paul says, “Because salvation was never a game you could win by crafty piece-movement. The Holy Spirit is the one who changes you.

For more Bible facts about patience and how to get it, click this link:
https://www.bibleinfo.com/en/topics/patience

Photo and Commentary ©2026 by Russell Jurgensen
Thursday, August 13, 2026

I enjoy spotting the little mundane survey markers that are usually overlooked. Besides attempting to mark a permanent location, they often have interesting histories.

For example, a survey marker just over a mile from my house possibly marks the location of an old cabin where George Weyerhaeuser was held captive by kidnappers in 1935. The marker was placed in 1936 and named Kidnap. Fortunately, George escaped and was helped by neighbors down the road.

The marker pictured is near Silver Lake Washington and has the following text stamped on it:

“U.S. Engineer Office, Survey Mark, Seattle Wash, No. A, $250 Fine or Imprisonment”

When attempting to locate the marker in the Seattle survey online databases, I could not find anything. This probably means the marker was placed before 1976.

God gives us a location of sorts. I like the following verses.

My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand.
John 10:27,28

God promises to hold us in his hand. He will not forget us, and no one can take us away from that location.

Photo and Commentary ©2026 by Darren Milam
Wednesday, August 12, 2026

About a week ago, I was on a business trip to Utah. The company I work for has a manufacturing facility in Draper, a community just south of Salt Lake City. I was staying at a hotel nearby in Sandy, Utah.

One morning, I went for a walk and passed the Sandy Courthouse. Standing in front of the building was a memorial statue honoring the firefighters who raised the American flag over the rubble of the World Trade Center following the attacks of September 11, 2001.

That iconic image became a symbol of hope during one of our nation’s darkest moments. In the midst of tragedy, Americans were searching for something positive to hold on to, something that reminded them we would endure and move forward together.

The phrase “hope rising” can mean different things to different people. In that moment, “hope” meant believing that something better was ahead and that we would make it through an incredibly difficult time.

While 9/11 was a unique event, our world continues to experience hardship, loss, and brokenness. When we look around today, it’s easy to see that this fallen world needs all the hope it can get.

As believers, we have the opportunity to raise hope every day. We can share the love of Christ, encourage those who are struggling, and bring light into difficult circumstances. Does that mean bad things won’t happen? Of course not. But hope gives us confidence in God’s promises and assurance that something greater awaits us.

That promise may be realized in this life, or ultimately when we go Home to be with Him.

As Christians, we are called to be carriers of that hope. We can point people to a better way, demonstrate Christ’s love through our actions, and remind others that they are not alone.

My challenge for you this week is simple: pray for opportunities to raise hope. You never know how God might use a kind word, a helping hand, or a simple conversation to make an eternal difference.

Romans 15:13
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him.”

Photo and Commentary ©2026 by Robert Howson
Tuesday, August 11, 2026

Of course it wasn’t arbitrary, but it certainly seems so.  August 9, 1945 was the day Fat Man was dropped on the city of Nagasaki, for all practical purposes ending World War II.  Just three days before, the city of Hiroshima had been destroyed by a similar nuclear blast.  Although this second bomb was more powerful, the loss of human life was considerably less due to the geography of the area.  Nevertheless, between 39,000 – 80,000 died from the explosion, with roughly half of the deaths occurring the day of the bombing.  War is always horrific and the ethics of the use of this atomic power continues to be debated today.

But let’s put aside the big picture for a moment and reflect on the incident from a more personal level. It’s estimated there were 263,000 people in the city that day when 11 pounds of plutonium were dropped.  Imagine you just happened to be in that city that particular day.  The raid had been scheduled for two days later with the primary target being the city of Kokura, but plans changed due to weather considerations.  At 7:50 a.m., an air raid alert was sounded but this was followed by an all clear signal soon after when only two B-29 Superfortresses were sighted and it was assumed they were only on a reconnaissance mission.  The bomb was released at 11:01 a.m. Japanese time, and 47 seconds later it exploded above a tennis court.  Imagine you were in a different city, or were there on a different day, or different time.

One of the realities we must face is that modern warfare kills indiscriminately.  And the end of the final battle—is that conducted indiscriminately too?  The answer has to be a resounding NO.   “…each person was judged according to what they had done. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death.   Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.”  (Revelation 20:13-15 NIV)  And there is another difference—this battle will be final, absolute, no POWS.  But perhaps the greatest difference is that nothing will be randomly done.  While the outcome of the final battle will be conclusive, it will also be unequivocally fair.