Daily Photo Parable

Photo and Commentary ©2026 by Maylan Schurch
Sabbath, April 4, 2026

Last Sunday on a walk I discovered, to my delight, a sidewalk chalk challenge, in which the juvenile artist tried to goad friends and passersby into a series of hopping challenges. Though the chalkmarks were emphatic, the drawing and the spelling were a bit sketchy, and I sometimes found it hard to figure out. But I’ll give it a try.

As near as I can figure, the above photo shows us where the course begins. The three shaded-in circles seem to be color-coded ways for three participants to keep straight who they are as they hop along. The “asome!” (which I take to be a variant of “awesome!”) offers encouragement right at the start. What “Lava!” signifies I have no clue.

Here, another injection of encouragement is provided with a hearty “good”, after which the color-coded participants must take their positions again, and puzzle over the next command: “Get the cons.” Thus far I had detected no signal that the players were to capture criminals, so I decided that the speller had meant “get the coins,” since there followed a series of gold-chalked circles (one of which you can see at the top) with dollar signs in them. Hop along, land on a coin, and you’re that much richer.

At this point, if I have these in the right order, the participants are heartened by another shot of encouragement (“good job”), after which they resume their positions and respond to the simple command “run.” Helpful triangular shoe-tread designs let them know where to place their feet.

At last, we seem to have come to the end of the challenge course. The artist – choosing again not to be trammeled by basic spelling rules – declares not only the “fenesh” but pats the participants verbally on the back with “vare god!”

And here’s a view back along the course. I’m not sure what the final cryptic symbols are:

Cute, right? Tragically, a steady rain fell the following day, and when I sought to re-examine the challenge course it had been washed away. But what stuck with me was encouragement. Whoever had set this course out was someone who believed that positive affirmations were helpful.

The Bible has quite a bit to say, and demonstrate, about how encouragement makes all the difference. Check out this link:

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

Photo and Commentary ©2026 by Maylan Schurch
Friday, April 3, 2026

One of the truly annoying – and even disconcerting – things I notice happening is how craftily artificial intelligence is slithering its way into my life. It’s showing up in my word processing, hovering at the left edge of my Microsoft Word documents’ lines, begging me to use it to fine-tune my writing style. It has shouldered its way into my Google searches and tries to be helpful there.

Luckily, its programmers are starting to include warnings, as in the photo above. At first glance, doesn’t that statement sound something like a mild oath, such as “by cracky” or “by George”? Gemini, as it turns out, is Google’s “Personal Assistant,” which promises to help you if you tell it what you want it to do. I haven’t tried it out, and don’t plan to, except I know that even if I so a simple Google search, a whole lot of AI is already at work, guiding me to the answers it thinks I want.

But “There may be mistakes,” this gentle warning tells me. In other words, “Don’t trust me to be absolutely error-free. Keep in mind that I might not have all the facts, or that I might occasionally use the facts I do have in an incorrect way.”

I’m glad they post that warning, because I need it. For several decades I’ve spent time thinking about ways to think clearly and correctly. I’ve learned that it’s easy to fool me unless I reason cautiously and humbly. I hope, as AI surrounds us and infiltrates our machines, that we all become more vigilant about how to think.

And you’ve probably discovered, as I have, that human logic only leads us so far. There’s Bible logic to consider too. The link below offers several eternally-relevant Scriptural thinking patterns. Check them out!

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

Photo and Commentary ©2026 by Russell Jurgensen
Thursday, April 2, 2026

It is fun to see what images a cell phone can capture. I like how the moon just appears to float although we know it does not just hover there. The moon constantly accelerates towards the earth. Its forward momentum keeps it in equilibrium to establish an orbit.

When we think about our relationship with God, it is healthiest when things stay dynamic instead of just floating in limbo. Let’s think about how we can trust the Lord and use his principles as we move forward.

Photo and Commentary ©2026 by Darren Milam
Wednesday, April 1, 2026

Have you ever felt on the outside of an inner circle? At one time or another, we’ve all been there—looking in on an event, a coveted work opportunity, or a tightly knit group of friends, wishing we were part of it instead of observing from a distance.

That feeling of being left out, of whatever is happening, can stir up emotions. It can leave us feeling overlooked, lonely, and even hurt. Part of that response comes from a fundamental human need: we are wired for connection. We long for acceptance. We want to know that we belong.

That human need is a trait given to us, from our Creator. That feeling of togetherness and acceptance is the basis of the family/community God has created.

Scripture reminds us that life with God is not meant to be lived alone, we are invited into His family, one household and called to walk together.

Ephesians 2:19 – “Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God”

Think back to the feeling of standing on the outside. Now imagine being drawn in, welcomed with open arms, and embraced as part of the innermost circle, the family of God.

About the image — this English Daisy, which has such striking color and contrast showcasing its distinct circles, was captured in a nearby garden. 

Photo and Commentary ©2026 by Robert Howson
Tuesday, March 31, 2026

Perspective makes all the difference which is just another way of saying “you are what you see.”  A rather grim picture of life is painted by the military mind of Napoleon Bonaparte who observed, “There are two levers to set a man in motion, fear and self-interest.”  What a dismal outlook on life.  Somewhere along the way he must have missed all that is beautiful, all that is elegant.  Nature, of course provides examples of both viewpoints, but how much richer we are if we choose to focus on that which enriches.

Take this bird for example, the Long-tailed Silky-flycatcher, a species found above 5400 feet in the mountains of Panama and Costa Rica.  There it feeds primarily on small fruits and berries, such as mistletoe and fuchsia, as well as insects.  Its very long tail and prominent crest combined with its silky plumage presents the essence of elegance. These characteristics place it in close connection with the waxwings.  The Phainopepla is its closest relative found in the United States.  During courtship the male will offer berries to the female which to our mind carries an inference of refinement.

Lest we romanticize too much, we’re reminded that balance is also an important factor in maintaining a mental equilibrium.  H.L. Mencken, an American journalist, provides us with that nudge toward reality: “An idealist is one who, on noticing that a rose smells better than a cabbage, concludes that it will also make better soup.”

Photo ©2011 and Commentary ©2026 by Chuck Davis
Monday, March 30, 2026

The Snowshoe Hare is one of three animals in the Cascade Mountains of Washington that change color in the winter. The ermine, (a type of weasel) and the ptarmigan (a type of grouse) also change from a brown summer coat to primarily white in winter. The change in color stems from the shortening of the length of day. The reduced daylight causes a hormonal change and the animal stops producing melanin in new hair follicles. The new hairs also contain air chambers resulting in better insulation.

We can use God’s plan for clothing these animals as an allegory for the garments with which He clothes us.

“I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels” (Isaiah 61:10 KJV).

As God has clothed this hare in warm camouflage, even more, He longs to clothe you in His protective embrace.

Photo and Commentary ©2026 by Shelley Schurch
Sunday, March 29, 2026

First there was a wild windstorm. That was Wednesday. Then, two days later, on Friday the 13th, winter arrived. We were startled, but thankful that it was a one-day, mid-March winter. At our place it had been snowing before we woke up to witness it, and kept snowing until late that night.

The double punch of a windstorm and snowstorm was too much for many trees in the area, especially the beautiful cherry blossom trees. Most of them were in glorious full bloom, and it was sad to see so many of their branches bowed down and broken with the weight of snow and ice.

I’m fond of trees. I consider them friends. Much has been researched and written in recent years about how beneficial trees are, beyond their beauty. They are so alive and giving, that it seems a terrible irony that the stiff and lifeless wooden cross upon which Jesus died has been called, in Scripture and song, a tree.

The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you murdered by hanging on a tree. (Acts 5:30 NKJV, Peter speaking to the high priest)

Now when they had fulfilled all that was written concerning Him, they took Him down from the tree and laid Him in a tomb. But God raised Him from the dead. (Acts 13:29-30, Paul speaking in the synagogue at Antioch)

. . . [Christ] who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed. (I Peter 2:24, Peter writing to early Christians)

Jesus, our healer and sin-bearer, bowed and broken on the tree.

Broken? No.

Therefore, because it was the Preparation Day, that the bodies should not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. Then the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and of the other who was crucified with Him. But when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs. But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out. And he who has seen has testified, and his testimony is true; and he knows that he is telling the truth, so that you may believe. For these things were done that the Scripture should be fulfilled, “Not one of His bones shall be broken.” (John 19:31-36)

Broken? Yes.

I hold with those who believe He died with a broken heart.

Jesus, bowed and broken.

Weighted down with the sins of the world.

Counterweighted with His all-embracing, everlasting, unchanging, personal love for each and all of us.