We trekked into the big city last weekend for Missions Fest. The world of nature pretty much escaped my eye, but there were some bits of beauty that caught me by surprise…
For instance, this little splash of Venice right above my bed at the hotel—and in my favorite media (watercolor) besides! Who do you suppose arranged for that to be there just for me?
And returning to our hotel after a full day inside the convention center we made a quick stop for a late night bite and what should my little eye spy in the black of night, in the wet dark of a parking lot…
… but the promise of spring! of all things new! of fresh beginnings in the wind…
This next shot is not a bit of nature but was a very pleasant surprise. As we tend to opt for the stairs when stuck in cities and missing exercise, we have seen a lot of stairwells this past while. They’re kind of creepy things most of the time. Grimy, stinky, dimly lit, like the construction budget ended before the finishing touches could be laid. But this one changed all that! Bright, upbeat, clean and snazzy. I even got a model to pose for me ( : Applause to the Mall with such bright vision!
Ahh…. but soon enough it was time to head home to our quiet little backwater, which we alternately treasure and resent.
The ferry rides become same-ish and inconvenient. Living out of the flow of life and culture can lull one to sleepy indifference and sluggishness. Even spectacular beauty can become old. So we spend a few minutes on deck and try to see it anew and look the tourist part with camera in hand, trying to capture a unique angle and retain the wonder…
—LS
“Yes, and I will rejoice.” Phil. 1:18