Daily Photo Parable

Photo and Commentary ©2026 by Robert Howson
Tuesday, March 17, 2026

Have you ever wondered whether Jacob resented his given name?  Did he hold it against his parents for giving him such a derisive title and did it do anything to shape the decisions he made?  That’s something we have no way of knowing, but somehow or the other I expected a saucy bird like the Common Tody-Flyctcher to have a better storyline behind its name than it does.  This tiny bird with the big head is a common nester from the southern part of Mexico to northwestern Peru.  Found among scattered trees and scrub, this sociable bird flits among the foliage, often with its tail cocked jauntily over its back.

Frequently seen in pairs, even outside the nesting season, this brightly colored tyrant flycatcher can often be found near human dwellings so has become a favorite of many.  With such a vibrant personality, one might expect some, however remote, connection with an Irish pub and a hot toddy, but such is not the case.  Instead, the hyphenated name apparently has some connection to the Caribbean family of todies which this bird may vaguely resemble.  If one wishes to go back even further, the term comes from a Latin word used by the Roman playwright Plautus for a small bird—not exactly the stuff of headlines.

I’m reasonably certain this lack of luster behind its name has had no effect on this sprite, for it continues wagging its tail as it makes its way among the branches.  On the other hand, we find it much more difficult to ignore names or titles that seem to diminish the recognition we somehow feel we deserve.  Paul, writing to the church in Thessalonica, helped to put things in their proper order.  Instead of being so worried about their own reputation, he encouraged the believers to be more concerned with the Lord’s reputation.  “So that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.”   (2 Thessalonians 1:12 ESV)

Photo ©2011 and Commentary ©2026 by Chuck Davis
Monday, March 16, 2026

Perfect blue sky, fluffy pure white snow. When I am teaching backcountry winter-safety, I call this the wedding cake environment. What about this environment, could possibly be dangerous? Snow on a hill probably refreshes our memories of sledding, a day off from school, fun and happy times, right? But each year more than 150 deaths occur worldwide due to avalanche accidents. In the U.S. five to seven people suffocate each year after falling into a snow-filled tree well.

The Bible warns about the deceptiveness of beauty:

• Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting (Proverbs 31:30 NIV).
•  Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight (1Peter 3:3-4 NIV)

God created the world to be beautiful, but he also wants us to be full of wisdom. Be like Solomon and ask Him for a discerning heart. Like Satan, prowling about, seeking whom he may devour, an avalanche might be hidden in the beauty of the scene.

Photo and Commentary ©2026 by Maylan Schurch
Sunday, March 15, 2026

Late this past week – as anyone knows who lives in the Seattle area – we received an unexpected snow event, which gently but remorselessly dumped at least six inches of the sloppy white stuff on many neighborhoods. Fortunately, the temperature stayed above freezing, so we didn’t have to contend with icy roads afterward. And almost immediately the snow started melting.

But the real melting didn’t happen until the sun appeared. I saw it in action on this garage roof Sabbath afternoon. If this photo had audio, you’d hear the steady water-drip off the collapsing ridge of ice over the gutter and onto the driveway.

And as you see, the sun isn’t only melting – it’s empowering. Above the ice ridge, the solar panels are capturing the rays and turning them into a steady trickle of electricity.

In a powerful and poetic Bible verse, Jesus is portrayed as the sun, nourishing and healing.

But to you who fear My name
The Sun of Righteousness shall arise
With healing in His wings;
And you shall go out
And grow fat like stall-fed calves. (Malachi 4:2 NKJV)

To review some of Jesus’ bio, go to the link just below:

https://www.bibleinfo.com/en/topics/jesus-christ

Photo and Commentary ©2026 by Maylan Schurch
Sabbath, March 14, 2026

One evening late last month I glanced up and caught this dramatic view of three power-line wires arcing across the sky. The sun reflected dazzlingly from each of them, and the first thought that came to my mind was the three angels.

In Revelation 14, three mighty angels play a key role in announcing the end-time return of Jesus. Each one bears an important message, and the fact that they’re depicted as flying high and shouting loudly makes it clear that God wants them listened to.

For a fascinating Bible study which will talk you step-by-step through their messages, click the link just below:

https://www.bibleinfo.com/en/questions/three-angels-messages

Photo and Commentary ©2026 by Maylan Schurch
Friday, March 13, 2026

Two or three days ago I caught sight of this weatherbeaten box which used to contain copier paper.

But the label caught my attention in a different way. It struck me that we could look at “copy” not as an adjective but as a verb, an action-word. In other words, when you look at life from this direction, you could make a convincing case that you and I need to “copy paper.” In other words, be like paper. Imitate paper.

What am I talking about? Well, the main thing about copier paper is that it’s blank. It’s not cluttered up with pre-printed borders or patterns which may not fit everybody’s personalities or needs, and might distract from what whoever’s running the printer wants to say. From edge to edge, regular copier paper is totally ready for what’s printed or copied on it.

I think that’s what God prefers our lives to be like. We’re humans, of course, and not pulp paper, and we all accumulate habits and other tendencies which make it hard for God’s image to be clearly reproduced.

But God is miraculously able to erase what it defective in our lives, and change us into the likeness of our Savior. You can find more about this in the eight-verse deep-dive into the essential truths about “purity.” Click the link just below:

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

Photo and Commentary ©2026 by Russell Jurgensen
Thursday, March 12, 2026

This was my first time at a batting cage, and I found it a little more exhilarating than I expected. The balls from the pitching machine seemed pretty fast, even with the speed turned down. In this picture, a person is doing the pitching, which makes it more exciting because you never know when the ball will come inside.

There ended up being a lot of baseballs on the ground (which we had to pick up ourselves.) It seems it can relate to this Bible verse that refers to a lot of generations.

Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments.
Deuteronomy 7:9

A thousand generations seems like it is really saying an unlimited number of generations where God keeps his word with us. That is a lot, and it gives us assurance that God has not forgotten us.

Photo and Commentary ©2026 by Darren Milam
Wednesday, March 11, 2026

We recently had the opportunity to travel to Utah, to spend time with our three grandchildren. During our visit, we explored a children’s museum filled with hands-on learning experiences, including a beautiful saltwater fish tank that captured the attention of my grandson and me.

One of my favorite tropical fish is the clownfish, also known as anemonefish. Beyond their vibrant colors, they are fascinating because of their unique symbiotic relationship with sea anemones. (You can learn more about this here.) In the first image, you’ll see my grandson excitedly pointing out one of the “Nemos,” and in the second image, you have a closer look at the percula clownfish.

Moments like this remind me that the God we serve is incredibly creative—not only in what He has created, but also in how He has designed us with minds that are curious and imaginative.

As we stood there together, I asked my grandson to find the clownfish, and he spotted it immediately. What followed was even better, a stream of questions about the fish, the anemone, and the other creatures in the tank. I could see the curiosity in his eyes—the wheels turning as he absorbed what he was learning and prepared his next question.

It made me reflect on our own relationship with Jesus. Are we still curious? Are we still asking questions, learning more each day, and leaning into growth? I hope so. A healthy relationship is marked by curiosity—by asking, learning, and continually deepening the connection. Jesus invites us into that kind of relationship with Him.

My challenge for all of us this coming week is simple: be curious. Ask more questions. Seek more answers. I pray your daily walk is filled with new discoveries and renewed strength as you continue to grow.