Daily Photo Parable

Photo and Commentary ©2025 by Robert Howson
Tuesday, July 8, 2025

The wide open prairies of the Midwest are the home of two mammals that live in close contact with each other. But it’s the contrast between the size of these two creatures that cannot help but catch our attention. The male American Bison can weigh up to 2,599 pounds while an adult Black-tailed Prairie Dog will be lucky to weigh in at 48 ounces. Yet for all their differences, they seem to peacefully coexist. Frequently when two species are found in the same area the success of their habitation centers around the fact that they feed on different organisms and as a result are not in competition with each other. Yet with these two, there are marked similarities in their diet.

So different, yet each in its own way contributes to the well-being of the other. The prairie dogs burrowing actions enhance water filtration improving the quality of the soil which in turn leads to increased plant productivity. The grazing of the bison promotes the growth of a diverse plant community by preventing dominant species from monopolizing nutrients and water. In addition, the bison’s dung contributes to the fertility of the soil.

This same kind of mutually beneficial living is encouraged by Peter as he addressed members of the early church: “Each of you has been blessed with one of God’s many wonderful gifts to be used in the service of others. So use your gift well. If you have the gift of speaking, preach God’s message. If you have the gift of helping others, do it with the strength that God supplies. Everything should be done in a way that will bring honor to God because of Jesus Christ, who is glorious and powerful forever.” (1 Peter 4:10-11 CEV) If the rodent and the ungulate can do so, it would seem we should be able to accomplish this as well.

Photo ©2011 and Commentary ©2025 by Chuck Davis
Monday, July 7, 2025

Getting sunrise photos of Mt. Rainier from “Reflection Lake” meant getting up early and
a long drive in the dark. Landscape photographers place a high value on the quality of
light. The “Golden Hour” (around sunrise and sunset) produces warm diffuse light that
can put a glow on the subject.

As I set up for the photo shoot that morning, I felt rushed to capture the best
composition possible. Should I be up high to get a full reflection of the mountain, or
down low to include the wildflowers as a base? I was thinking, “What are the most
important things that will best document this time and place?”

While it is important to identify the salient elements when composing a photograph, it is
paramount to identify what is most important in our walk with God. The list of those
things is robust: Faith, Trust, Obedience, Discipline…

“And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him” (Genesis 5:24 KJV).

“ And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love” (1
Corinthians 13:13 NIV).

What do you think about this photograph — mountain reflection, or wildflowers? I chose
the flowers.

Photo and Commentary ©2025 by Shelley Schurch
Sunday, July 6, 2025

My first thought as we almost stumbled upon this seashell was, “What are you doing here? You don’t belong here!”

“Here” was the middle of a neighborhood sidewalk, far from the seashore, with no other seashells in sight. A fish out of water – or a seashell out of sand.

I can relate. Maybe you can, too. Do you remember times when you felt like “a stranger in a strange land”? Perhaps someone has actually said to you the words I thought when I saw this solitary seashell: “You don’t belong here!”

Ouch. That cuts deep. I think we were born with a longing for belonging.

But Adam and Eve were born into paradise, into the Garden of Eden designed for their delight. I wonder how long they lived in that place of bliss and belonging. How long was it before they chose to distrust God, and were banished from Eden, lest they eat from the tree of life? The consequences of their choice meant they no longer belonged there.

But they still belonged to God, and He provided for them and protected them and promised them a Saviour. The rest of the Bible tells the story of them and their children, and shows God’s heart for them – for us. As we read, we see God’s deep longing for us to choose Him. He does everything He can to bring us back to Him, back where we belong.

“Everything He can” meant that the Son of God chose to also become Son of Man – “God with us” — a God we could see, a God with a friendly face, a God who would willingly become our sins’ sacrifice.

We have all been “loved to life” by the death of Jesus.* He has chosen each one of us for a forever friendship with Him, and waits for us to choose Him in return.

The Bible often describes Christians as strangers, foreigners, pilgrims on this earth, telling both Gentiles and Jews where they truly belonged:

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

For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ (Philippians 3:20)

*I’ve borrowed this phrase from Ann Voskamp, whose most recent book is, Loved to Life: A 40-Day Pilgrimage with Love Himself That Will Change Your Life. In this devotional she follows Jesus through the entire gospel of John.

Photo and Commentary ©2025 by Russell Jurgensen
Thursday and Friday, July 3 and 4, 2025

We had a chance to try out some paddle boards and got out on a lake last week. I can see why people like the water. The birds sing, the breeze blows, and the clouds drift along. It gives a chance to enjoy more of God’s creation.

Jesus offers that kind of peace where we can give him our burdens and let go.

Let’s practice this week on letting God do the heavy lifting as we trust him more and more.

Photo and Commentary ©2025 by Darren Milam
Wednesday, July 2, 2025

A few days ago, I was watering our garden when I glanced up at the sky and saw this scene. It looks like it’s straight out of a Bob Ross-style impressionist painting — beautiful blue skies with puffy clouds, covering the entire grey scale. As I captured the image and then stood admiring the “live” painting, it reminded me of a dreamscape. It was peaceful and tranquil.

Life isn’t always peaceful and tranquil. In fact, sometimes, life can be pretty chaotic. Chaos can make us feel anxious and worried. Unfortunately, it’s the side effects of living on a sinful planet. The good news is, there is a cure. A cure for that chaotic feeling? Yes. You can read about this remedy in Philippians 4:6-7. Clearly, the words are typed out below, but I would encourage you to grab your printed Bible (yes, the one you turn physical pages in) if you can and read from the printed pages. If not, read below –

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

I know, from experience, it’s not always the easiest thing to do – “Don’t be anxious.” Great concept, sometimes extremely difficult to put into practice. Well, as the saying goes, “practice makes perfect.” So, keep practicing. As the verse states – in every situation. Not some, not a few times, but “every situation.” We bring our concerns to God, in prayer – with thanksgiving. What do we get in return? We get the peace of God — guarding our hearts and minds. Is there anything better? I would argue, no.

Just imagine your mind and heart — peaceful, tranquil, like a dreamscape with white and grey puffy clouds floating by, with a backdrop of beautiful blue skies. Sound good? Yes, it sounds like Heaven.

Photo and Commentary ©2025 by Robert Howson
Tuesday, July 1, 2025

I’d never seen one before, but I knew instantly what it was. We had just rounded a bend on the boardwalk in Northern Minnesota when the first one came into view. The Pink Lady Slipper Cypripedium acaule has to be among the most beautiful of North America’s native orchids. Found growing in clusters in rich woodland soil or adjacent to bogs, these flowers do their best in filtered sunlight. Considered endangered in some areas or “of special concern” in others, these flowers have specific requirements, in part because they are slow to germinate and colonize. One of these constraints is the presence of a fungus in the soil which is needed to break open the seed and pass along needed food and nutrients in order for the plant to flourish.

All of these conditions were present and the flowers were thriving. But so too were other accompanying factors as seen in the second photograph. It probably should not come as a shock to anyone that these orchids were not the only living thing that would thrive in such a damp environment. They were out in droves and seemed to be unfamiliar with the supposed effectiveness of DEET; a true overlap of the exquisite and the appalling. How could two such opposites find themselves compatible in the same setting?

Then I remembered the contrasts found in one of Christ’s most beloved parables, the story of the Prodigal Son. The story is full of disparities: the father’s generosity in contrast to his son’s selfishness; the son’s attitude when leaving compared to those upon his return; life in the pig sty and the finest robe; the father’s response to his returning son to that of the elder brother. These contrasts were intentional. Christ wanted His hearers to see and feel the disparity that begged for resolution. Maybe we learn best when these contrasts are made apparent to us. Maybe. But then again just maybe He wants us to long for the sublime without that accompanying buzz behind our left ear. May that day be soon.