Daily Photo Parable

Photo ©2026 by Amber Jurgensen
Commentary ©2026 by Russell Jurgensen
Thursday, May 6, 2026

We were clearing some fallen branches caused by early spring storms when this squirrel came running up to us in cautious stops and starts. At first, we thought it was asking for a handout, although that would be unusual for squirrels in these woods. We talked to it and said sorry we didn’t have any food. It looked us up and down for a moment, since we were standing right beside the tree it was on. Then it put on the gas and zoomed by us, following the same downed tree in the picture. The tree trunk curved up and up about twenty feet into the air where it was hung up on another tree. Some of the trees are very long and thin. The squirrel followed it right up and jumped onto the other tree, and from there ran across a branch onto yet another tree.

We looked at each other in amazement. We had just witnessed a close encounter of a squirrel following its freeway through the trees. This fallen tree was conveniently its onramp. It hadn’t been interested in us; we were just in its path! It even braved getting near people to stay on its desired course.

It reminds me of these well-known verses.

Your word is a lamp for my feet,
    a light on my path.
I have taken an oath and confirmed it,
    that I will follow your righteous laws.

Psalm 119:105-106

When we know the right path to take, we want to cautiously analyze dangers along the way, but we know it will get us to where we want to go.

Photo and Commentary ©2026 by Robert Howson
Tuesday and Wednesday, May 5 and 6, 2026

Many of us like to imagine ourselves as being rational human beings, individuals who look at the information in a cogent manner before making decisions.  Hopefully, that is at least partially true, but I’m guessing there may be another part of us that resides deeper within our psyche that also plays a significant role.  We can call it an emotional response to something that stirs within us which we are unable to identify, nevertheless, still strongly influence our choices.

For some unknown reason I have a particular fondness of Bluebells (Hyacinthoides) of both the English and Spanish varieties.  Native to Europe, these flowers are also known as Common Bluebell, Wild Hyacinth, and Bell Bottle.  Whatever you call them, the terms elegant and friendly both fit comfortably.  In my imagination I picture them creating the perfect setting for Robin Hood and Maid Marian to reside, hidden away somewhere in Sherwood Forest.

The setting does not the story make, it only enhances it and provides a tapestry upon which the story can be told.  But the Lord seems more than willing to provide us with such a setting.  He only asks that we place Him first in our lives. “Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this.” (Psalm 37:4-5 NIV)

Photo ©2011 and Commentary ©2026 by Chuck Davis
Monday, May 4, 2026

I chose today’s image as a parable demonstrating the importance of flexibility in our walk with God. Abraham left his home to go to a far land; he had no map but trusted God to be his polestar.

Paul talks about the need for flexibility: “To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some ” (1 Corinthians 9:22 NIV).

Over time, the Pharisees became rigid in their relationship to God, developing over 600 rules about Sabbath keeping. Jesus taught us differently: “Then he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath” (Mark 2:27 NIV).

“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9 KJV).

The tree in our photo survived because of its flexibility. Deep snows caused it to bow its head each winter for several years in a row. Each spring, it found the sky. Eventually, the tree overcame the brutality of winter. Like this tree, the perils of the world may bend us, but keep your eyes on Him and grow to His light. Remember that He is not willing for any of us to perish, so in the darkest night keep your eyes on Him. He will light your way.

Photo and Commentary ©2026 by Shelley Schurch
Sunday, May 3, 2026

It’s time. The forecast is telling us we’ll experience 82° weather this weekend. It’s true that it’s also predicting a high of 61° five days later, but that must not distract us from the urgent need to climb the fold-down stairs to the attic and to bring down the bins marked, “SUMMER CLOTHES.”

We’ll empty those bins, then fill them with our thicker, warmer clothing, turn around the labels so they read, “WINTER CLOTHES,” and tuck the bins back in the attic. Since I love a play on words, I was pleased to realize that this could be described as our semi-annual “Changing of the Garb”!

And yes, this makes me think of Jesus. Except the scenario I’m thinking of as described in the Bible, several times and in several ways, is not a semi-annual event. Consider this drama from the Old Testament:

Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the Angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to oppose him. And the Lord said to Satan, “The Lord rebuke you, Satan! The Lord who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is this not a brand plucked from the fire?”

 Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and was standing before the Angel.

Then He answered and spoke to those who stood before Him, saying, “Take away the filthy garments from him.” And to him He said, “See, I have removed your iniquity from you, and I will clothe you with rich robes.”

 And I said, “Let them put a clean turban on his head.” So they put a clean turban on his head, and they put the clothes on him. And the Angel of the Lord stood by.  (Zechariah 3:1-5)

I remember the first time I read those verses. I took them personally. (I still do!) I was Joshua. Satan was accusing me of my sins, and the Lord was rebuking him, taking away my sins, clothing me with the rich robes of His righteousness. I cannot read this story without smiling wide.

Now consider this slice of a drama from the New Testament. It’s a well-loved story because it’s full to overflowing with the immense love of a forgiving father for a vastly undeserving son.

“But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.” ’

 “And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. and bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ And they began to be merry. (Luke 15:17-24)

Again, I cannot help but “be merry” myself at this picture of God! Here we see, not a Father who holds Himself aloof from us, arms crossed, face frowned, disapproving of our bad behavior, but a Father whose eyes are searching for us, whose heart is yearning for our return. He runs toward us, and interrupts our prepared speech in order to call for us to be clothed in “the best robe.”

I love all the stories in the Bible that describe this “changing of the garb.” God reassures us over and over that we don’t, we can’t, earn the change of clothes (heart) we need. It’s all gift.

Isaiah helps us respond to such amazing grace:

I will greatly rejoice in the Lord,
My soul shall be joyful in my God;
For He has clothed me with the garments of salvation,
He has covered me with the robe of righteousness,
As a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments,
And as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
(Isaiah 61:10 NKJV)

Photo and Commentary ©2026 by Maylan Schurch
Sabbath, May 2, 2026

This past Sunday on a walk, I noticed this little bug trundling along a semi-paved trail, and laid down my black Bic pen in its path to give the scale. By the time I got my smartphone out to take a picture, the bug had wriggled around the pen-cap and was moving methodically away.

Through a bit of AI-searching, I found the Wikipedia link below. Turns out this bug has a Latin name that’s about five times as long as it is: Armadillidium vulgare. (I’m sure the vulgare part doesn’t mean it’s foul-mouthed, but is a synonym for “common.”)

I find myself feeling a bit tender-hearted toward this bug. It’s not flashy. It has no color that would attract much attention (something it would probably grateful for if it gave it a moment of thought), so it just toils along from Point A to Point B, doing its duty.

And if you take a moment to study Wikipedia’s fascinating article, you will find that this bug indeed does have several important roles in the ecosystem. Check it out. And give a reverent salute to its Creator!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armadillidium_vulgare

Photo and Commentary ©2026 by Maylan Schurch
Friday, May 1, 2026

Thursday morning of this week I paused beside this scene and snapped its picture. Near this fence is a home which evidently includes not only children but a parent who loves to offer them opportunities for enjoyment.

However, as I looked at this swing, I found myself squinting at it through the eyes of my father. Dad passed to his well-deserved rest in 1994, but had he had been able to study this photo, he would have squirmed nervously.

And the reason would have been that, in his opinion, the rope on this device is far too feeble. Even if the householder could have reasoned with him, demonstrating with science and experimentation that its tensile strength was more than adequate for the weight of any of the kids who might leap astride its swing-disc, Dad would have politely disagreed. And had he been tasked with revising it to his liking, he would have replaced the rope with a line of hemp five times as thick, and he would have anchored that rope’s upper end to a sturdy tree branch using a large and complicated knot.

I know this because this is exactly what he did when he made a swing for his four kids back in the day. He loved us so much that he systematically worried his way through all the possibilities of our potential injury before he set up anything we would be involved in.

At the link below you’ll find four Bible verses which mention how God regards us as His children. And He cares for us far more than my Dad doted on his own progeny.

https://www.bibleinfo.com/en/topics/gods-children

Photo © 2026 by Amber Jurgensen
Commentary © 2026 by Russell Jurgensen
Thursday, April 30, 2026

Tulip season is starting to wind down in the Skagit Valley, but there are still plenty of blooms out at the moment. This photo contrasts a section with just one color with another section that has a variety of colors.

While looking at this image, I pondered the age-old question of diversity. Is it better to have only uniformly colored flowers like on the right side? Or is it better to have diversity in colors like on the left? It seems with flowers, there is no perfect color, and we like to see the variations and contrasts.

It is like that with people, where God gives everyone different talents and personalities. We wouldn’t want everyone to be the same. We are each unique and special. When we strive to learn and follow God’s law of love, it produces a pleasing picture that anyone can be delighted to see.  That kind of desire can’t be forced, as demonstrated countless times in history.  It comes from practicing what we believe, encouraging, and being involved to build up those around us.