the silver lining
Birds sing after a storm; why shouldn’t people feel as free to delight in whatever remains to them? *Rose Kennedy
♫listen > INDIA.ARIE ‘Wings of Forgiveness’
view from the battlements
God moves in a mysterious way, His wonders to perform. He plants his footsteps in the sea, and rides upon the storm. *William Cowper
♫ listen > INDIA.ARIE ‘This Too Shall Pass’
dry docked
People, even more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed, and redeemed; never throw out anyone. *Audrey Hepburn
cast off
Men are anxious to improve their circumstances, but are unwilling to improve themselves; they therefore remain bound. *James Allen
wait-a-while
It takes a long time to grow an old friend. *John Leonard
hold your fire
Aim at heaven and you will get earth thrown in. Aim at earth and you get neither. *C. S. Lewis
after the storm
It is for us to pray not for tasks equal to our powers, but for powers equal to our tasks, to go forward with a great desire forever beating at the door of our hearts as we travel toward our distant goal. *Helen Keller
♫ listen > MUMFORD & SONS ‘After the Storm’
therefore, encourage one another …
The fishermen know that the sea is dangerous and the storm terrible, but they have never found these dangers sufficient reason for remaining ashore. *Vincent Van Gogh
sermon on the mount
The effect of the simple yet profound truth that God loves me is huge. Within the confidence of his love, there is no need for worry. I no longer need to impress anyone. There is no need for despair over my circumstances. If I am sure that God loves me, I am one confident he will work and keep working on my behalf. I can pray with assurance, preach with confidence, smile with sincerity, obey without concern for my own welfare, follow faithfully in the presence of trial or darkness, and share generously. When I know God’s love, I can be strong against temptation, stand unmoving in the midst of persecution, and remain unafraid in the presence of danger. When I understand love, I’m free from the bondage of the past, the anxiety of the present, and fear of the future.
If you understand God’s love for you, really understand it, you will change the world.
*Harry Kraus M.D. (from The Cure)
♫ listen > HYMN ‘It Is Well With My Soul’
i brought you flowers
Getting what you want is not nearly as important as giving what you have. *Tom Krause
one of the things i love about photography is the way it can cause you to ‘accidentally’ discover hidden treasure. when i literally stumbled over this heart-shaped stone while walking up a steep cobbled path, i was already pretty happy with myself. only afterwards i realised the raindrops that were falling had temporarily painted in an eye, perfectly completing a sad-faced little person, while the flowers that were falling out of the overhead trees also landed ‘just so’ to add a poignancy i couldn’t have choreographed better if i tried. this photo has been doubly blessed. so enjoy, nature’s gift…a true and heartbreaking message if you have eyes to see; ‘i brought you flowers’
