Psalm 61 - Why I Do What I Do
First off, I want to welcome those who have been subscribing in recent weeks. I continue to be humbled that something of what I am sharing here connects with folks and I am so grateful with each person who comes along on this photography and writing journal. If you are interested more of how I got started doing this, there are several posts here, here, and here that go into some of that detail. Again, thank you. I am humbled and grateful. As well, for those who are relatively new here, I invite you to take a look at the book I published earlier this year that goes into the practice of contemplative photography and seeking meaning in the everyday - both of which are at the heart of what I try to share here on a regular basis. Here’s the link for info and links to the print and ebook versions.
I am writing this at just over 36,000’ above the Atlantic as we are flying over the very southern tip of Greenland as we return home from our trip to Ireland and Spain. Right now, where we literally are feels a little bit like the opening of Psalm 61:
From the end of the earth I call to you, O God
We are a long way from a lot of places right now and yet my heart is still full from these last two weeks. It has been a gift and a privilege to spend time with our dear children in these wonderful places, see them flourishing at their respective school, and create memories and experiences that will stay with us the rest of our lives.
As the Psalm continues, it is a prayer to God that we may continue to experience divine presence and assurance.
Lead me to the rock
that is higher than I;
for you are my refuge...
Let me abide in your tent forever,
find refuge under the shelter of your wings.
That will continue to be my prayer as we return home to continue to practice abiding in the Divine by seeking where I continue to find God in the everyday. This practice isn’t only for unique places like Cork, Dingle, Doolin, Dublin, Barcelona, Granada, and Madrid but for Cincinnati, Ft Thomas, Evendale, Finneytown, Cold Spring, Walnut Hills, Covington, and Goshen. It isn’t just for world heritage sites like the Alhambra and the Cliffs of Moher but small neighborhood churches, benches at a lake, walks with a dog (who we get to see tonight!!!), And it isn’t just for trips that have been saved for over a period of years but the regular, every day times of life. I’ve shared a lot of photos over the last few weeks but I wanted to share just a few more - these of some of the more ordinary moments of our time.
Ireland
Spain
A Postscript
While we were in Granada, our son took us to one of his favorite pubs which happens to be themed like Lord of the Rings. Here’s my doing my best Strider/Aragorn impression from the pub in Bree.
Why share this other than the fact that it is a really cool place? Well, it is that one of the most oft-quoted (especially now) sections of the book is framed on one of the walls that really gets to the heart of why I continue to share here. As Frodo despaired about having the ring come into his life as he said to Gandalf, “I wish that the ring had never come to me. I wish none of this had happened.” The wise wizard, Gandalf replies with this:
“So do all who live to see such times, but that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us.”
That’s why I do what I do - not only for myself but also because I know that this is one of the things that is mine to do in this life. I’m grateful to journey with you.
Grace, Peace, Love, and Joy,
Ed
Dear Readers, I echo my husband's comments about a full heart and the desire to keep seeking the beauty and goodness of the Divine Hand everywhere we are. It was such a privilege and a blessing to see our low-mileage-adult kids thriving in other cultures and navigating in other languages. (An aside- Yes, folks in Ireland do speak English, but there has been a significant effort to reclaim Irish heritage post- colonization and keep the Irish language alive! Signs are all in Irish and English -and sometimes in Irish only where we were in the South of Ireland.) Our kids learning some of the depth of history of the respective countries, the effects of being colonized or being colonizers and how the modern countries are dealing with the histories of their respective countries was really interesting to hear and see in the art and architecture as they showed us around. Of course visits to different churches and cathedrals played a part in all of this as well. God felt palpably present during this whole trip and though we saw some of the most amazing cathedrals and churches, I often found that presence most strongly looking out over the cliffs, over a stream or a garden of orange trees. Though the Sacra Familia in Barcelona was by far my favorite of all the religious edifices we visited, I agree with its architect Gaudi, who limited the highest spire in the cathedral to one meter lower than the highest peak in Barcelona because he felt that the works of humans should not try to outdo the handiwork of God. And lastly I will say that though I am no photographer I do think it is important for you to know that Ed is not a wizard and that the photos of him on the trip are mostly taken by me or the kids. This one of my 'Strider' is my photo, as are the pictures of Ed as 'Ant Man' on the cliffs in Ireland. :-)
Thank you for sharing your trip with us. Welcome back to this world over here.