The blessings of Kanuga, North Carolina ... days 1 & 2

I had said I'd post my bold each week on Friday, but this particular week is so rich in experience that I thought I'd share a mid week entry.

My reflections for this week come out of my experience at Kanuga Conference Centre in North Carolina where I have been attending a photography conference. I’ve met wonderful people; I've received insightful instruction; I've inspired in both my spirituality and my photography; the scenery is awesome; my spirit is being fed; my soul is being nurtured. With each photograph I am making, I try to capture something of what this week has meant to me and the beauty I have experienced within me.

I share these images and reflections with the hope that as I have been blessed by God, that you may also be blessed!

On our first day of the conference, our instructor asked us to take ½ an hour and wander not with our cameras, but simply with our eyes and our hearts open to the pictures that the camera of our souls might take. He said that these images would outlast any photographs we would make and mean all the more to us as a result. It was an interesting exercise to be attentive to the sights, sounds, feelings and emotions; to feel the breeze; to be aware of the brightness of the sun. He was right; without attending to or fiddling with the settings of my camera what struck me was awesome beauty that was so profoundly simple and straightforward. How often do we look around us to be aware of the pictures we don’t need a camera to take or a printer to print? They’re there; I want to be more attentive even when I don’t have my camera with me so that I can see and appreciate the mystery, wonder and amazement of all God has blessed me with.

Ruthanne Ward, the Assistant Curate who works with me at St. Mary’s, Richmond Hill gave me a book as I left on this time of Sabbath appropriately called “The Sabbath” written many years ago by Abraham Joshua Heschel. While I have been here at Kanuga, I read a portion of it each day; and I receive a nugget of wisdom that I then use to guide my experience of the day. On Monday, the quote that stuck me and stayed with me was: “Sabbath is about embracing the presence of an eternal moment.” I photographed that day with that quote in mind; I went out to embrace the presence of my eternal moment that God was revealing to me. That really excited me; my eternal moment!

I was struck by this crucifix just off one of the paths on the grounds. In particular, I was drawn into the look on Jesus’ face; His eyes looking at me; I could just about hear him saying “This is for you my child, this is for you.” Jesus died on that cross for each of us; so that we could have life in all of it’s fullness in a right and restored relationship with God; so that he could rise from the dead and leave an empty tomb behind so that we might have hope.

I was also drawn into Jesus’ hands and His feet; the nails piercing through them; the pain and agony that would have caused. This statue that has been worn down over time sends a timeless message of John 3 vv 16 & 17: God so loved the world that He gave His only Son that whoever believes in Him may have eternal life. God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.

This verse from the hymn “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross” sums up my experience so well:

See from His head, His hands, His feet,

sorrow and love flow mingled down;

Did ere such love and sorrow meet,

nor thorns compose so rich a crown.

What a profound gift of God’s grace, love and mercy.

On Tuesday morning, the quote that I hung my day and experience of photographing on said: “Sabbath is about catching spectral glimpses of eternity.” That’s what I wanted today, to catch my glimpse of eternity; and to be sure I did in many moments, scenes and photographs I made.

During the first week of my Sabbath, by uncle who was my godfather died relatively suddenly. We gathered as his family to share our grief, to tell stories, to laugh and to cry as we commended him to God’s care and keeping. Yesterday I posted some of my photos on my Facebook page along with the comment that I felt a rich awareness of and closeness to God. My cousin commented back that the pictures were nice but she couldn’t feel particularly close to God. That’s understandable; grief can certainly cause that.

She was on my mind as I started out my day; I felt a sadness that she and others like her don’t feel close to God; and that so often it’s because of tragedy, death, illness or any other of the myriad of issues that confront us in our lives. I took this picture of the cross on the top of the chapel here at Kanuga for Debbie and others like her. For me it has a poignant message: the cross may be shrouded with things like branches that make it hard to see it; the cross may seem out of focus. However, the cross as a symbol of hope and promise is always there; whether we can see it through the branches or not; whether it’s in focus or not; it is always there!

Whatever we face in our lives, in time we will see again the reflection of the cross that does inspire us to faith, hope and trust in all that God promises us. This is an image of the cross which is across the lake from one of the outdoor chapels. I particularly like it’s reflection in the dark waters of the lake and the ripples too that add texture. The good news of the cross gets reflected back to us when we need it most. I pray for all those who need to see that reflection and experience the blessing of recognizing the hope that is God’s gift to each of us.

God is everywhere, in everything!

This week has been a wonderful experience of recognizing the presence of the living God through the lens of my camera. As if it's a new theological idea or concept that God is truly everywhere we look around us and in everything we see. That's so simple, and yet so profound at the same time.

The following are some of my images I captured and personal reflections from throughout the week ...

On Saturday morning, at 9:00 am, which is bright and early for me especially on a Saturday morning, I joined the group of photographers I have been meeting with over the past few weeks on an outing to put into practise some of what we have learned. We went to Richmond Green, a park in north east Richmond Hill where there's much to photograph and at different levels too, some up high and others low to the ground.

At first glance, this looks like an old log, and in many ways, that's exactly what it is. However it has it's own story to tell. As I looked at it and photographed it I wondered how old it might be; where did it come from; was it always on this property; what happened to the middle; how long was it alive and healthy before it died? I was captivated by how healthy it looks from the outside, and yet the inside is dead and eaten away. There were other logs around in the same condition and there was something that was captivating about each of them. That can be so true of our human lives too; we have a veneer that looks good, healthy and strong on the outside, and yet our inside is eaten away by the things that stress our lives, perhaps even close to death. In fact, we may not be healthy at all. What do other's see and perceive about us by what they can see with their eyes? What does God know about us, though, because God can see right inside? God can see right through the hole that goes from top to bottom; God knows what eats away at us. The truth is that God can heal the dead wood in our lives and close up the wounds within us.

I was also reminded of the intricate detail of God's creation. These two macro shots show that up close! The first is a photograph of the same log pictured above; the other was taken after a brief rain shower of a leaf that had fallen on the ground. The microscopic detail is so facinating: the crevaces on the wooden log; the differences in colour and texture; the droplets of water on the leaf; the sun sparkling off the water drops; the lines and texture of the leaf itself. How often do we miss such detail because we're too busy in our day to day lives. Do we look down at the ground very much to see the smallest of leaves; do we look into the crevaces of a tree trunk to see it's age; do we stop and appreciate that which seems small and insignificant? Sometimes those are the very things that speak of God's glory in a way that the obvious and grand things can't. I want to keep my eyes open and attentive to the intricate detail and beauty that shows so beautifully the image of God the creator.

This cross is in the quiet garden behind St. Luke's Anglican Church in Creemore, Ontario. The way the sun was shining was perfect to capture the shadow in the background. What a statement of faith in the shadow of the cross! There is such hope, promise and good news in the shadow of the cross! Even though this is a beautiful scene of a beautiful cross in a peaceful setting, we know the cross of Christ was anything but beautiful and peaceful. Thankfully, though, we are certain that the message of salvation doesn't end with the pain and suffering of the cross, but in a tomb that's empty and a Lord who is very much alive. Here in the quiet of a garden the cross reminds us of the profound mystery of God's love for us. In the shadow that gift is only amplified! What came to mind was the hymn "In the Cross of Christ I Glory" and in particular the verse:

When the sun of bliss is beaming

light and love upon my way,

from the cross the radiance streaming

adds more luster to the day.

Today is "Earth Day". I was thinking about what it's like to drive up highway 400 north through the Holland Marsh. The soil is so lush and dark; ready for the planting of seeds that will lead to the harvest of different kinds of vegetables that make their way into farmer's markets stalls and eventually on to our dinner tables.

It's sad that there are many places that no longer contribute to the beauty and wonder of creation; they've become unproductive and sometimes even unattractive. In may cases, it's because of what we as human beings have done, or what we've left undone. God called us to be good stewards of His creation; to care for His creation. At times we do anything but care for it; we abuse it; we misuse it; we pollute it; we build new subdivisions, and plazas. And what happens to the trees and flowers; they're destroyed; they wither and die; they are chopped down. And then what happens to the birds and the animals and even ourselves as humans when it comes to the food we eat. Everything is affected, often in the name of advancement and development!

Today is about celebrating the goodness of God's creation and comitting ourselves to preserving the bounty and beauty of what God has blessed us with. We have a role to play; the stewardship of creation can and should be part of our spiritual discipline. What could happen to areas like the Holland Marsh if we aren't the stewards we're called to be? I'd rather not even think of it!

A hymn that comes to mind is "For the Beauty of the Earth" and especially the verses:

For the Beauty of the earth, for the glory of the skies,

for the love which from our birth over and around us lies,

Christ our God to thee we raise; this our sacrifice of praise.

For each perfect gift of thine to our race so freely given,

graces human and divine, flowers of earth and buds of heaven,

Christ our God to thee we raise, this our sacrifice of praise.

I feel blessed with what I have seen through the lens of my camera and the reflections that have resulted. I hope that you have been blessed too!

Next week I'm off to a conference in the Blue Ridge mountains of North Carolina titled "Seeing the Holy: A Common Sense Approach to Digital Photography". I'm sure to see awe inspiring images of God there that I look forward to sharing with you.

Sabbath ... a time for rest, renewal, refreshment and creativity!

I feel very blessed to have these next few months to simply "be", and in that state of "being" to be aware of how much I am in the presence of God. The mystery of God is all around me and yet so often in day to day life I'm so busy and preoccupied that I don't take the opportunity to connect and appreciate the essence of that reality in my life. I am grateful for the opportunity to do so!

When I take a photograph, I'm aware of the beauty in that moment that I'm trying to capture. It may be a flower, a mountain scene, a view of the ocean, a waterfall, an animal, a rainbow, a winter scene or any number of other experiences. In all of them, as diverse as they may be, God is very present and so awe inspiring. Even for that moment, as brief as it may be, I can see and recognize the divine. And, as inadequate as it may be, the photograph captures what it can. The lens of a camera can't totally capture the emotion, or even the stunning beauty. However, with it preserved in time, these pictures can help me recall to mind what it was like to be in that space and to recognize God there with me too.

When I went through some of the pictures I've taken over the years, the 21 on the side panel were one's I chose that represent for me a cross section of photography and spirituality moments I've experienced. It was difficult to pick from the hundreds of shots I have on file. Each picture says something to me; there was a reason I took it; there was an experience that inspired it.

Over the coming months, and I hope into the future too, I will post pictures that I have taken and include some commentary on what they mean to me; what was inspired in me; where and how I experienced the presence of God. I hope that as I share them with you, you too will be drawn into the holiness of my moments. But more importantly, I hope you will be inspired to look for your own moments and capture them in a way that is meaningful to you.