The Photo That Wasn't

For any of you who do photography as a professional, an amateur or a person who simply enjoys taking a picture for a memory - there are moments that go undocumented in a visible way.  Such is my story that only lives on in my mind's eye and is a constant reminder to have a camera always at hand to record an unplanned event.   

Such an event happened several weeks ago when our horses escaped to the neighbor's property across the road.  My husband, who is the horseman in the family, grabbed a halter and proceeded in plan to catch the tamest horse to lead in hopes that the others would follow.  I was positioned at the end of a hillside road that turned into the town of Mt. Vernon.  Eventually, I heard him call out something about being the piped piper (a person who induces others to follow).  Standing guard at my positioned point intent that no horse would break past me, here the 'horseman cometh' with a horse in tow and a trail of horses following.  It was quite mesmerizing to watch a string of nearly 35 head of horses trailing behind their human leader who now could only be detected by the bobbing of his cowboy hat as he walked in front of the herd.  They calmly moved along the path that leads to home, trusting in this man who feeds and oversees their care.  

I then realized that I missed a tremendous photo opportunity because of  a lack of  a camera to record the event.  No words can possibly tell you how it really looked but it lives on in my memory.  The best I can do is share a few photos with you that was taken last summer when this same horseman was moving his horses from a pasture onto the hillside.  If you look close enough, you'll spot a white cowboy hat among the herd in this first picture...

The below photo is the view as they came up on the hill.  As you can see, we live in beautiful country that is diverse with hills and valley, juniper trees and sagebrush.... and silence.  Blessed silence with no motor sounds from traffic noise, train whistles or busy sirens.

This story contains the dynamics of trust and familiarity.  The horses came to be familiar with their horseman and he gained their trust through interaction with them.  They also knew where they belonged in a place of safety and provision.  Oh yes, they did escape into an unknown place but their horseman came and brought them back to their belonging home.  If we equate this spiritually, the same dynamics of trust and familiarity stand out.  Trust in our Father God opens the door to relationship with Him and we become familiar with His ways.  There are times that we do 'escape' and find ourselves in an unknown place but our faithful God comes and leads us back on His pathway to the home of His heart.

See you in two weeks on Monday, March 12th where we meet again at The Turn-Up Patch....

Super Blue Blood Moon and.... God!

The Super Blue Blood Moon has come and gone and left many awed by the dynamics that occurred in the sky on January 31 of this year.  From the articles that I have read, this event has not graced the heaven-lies for viewing in the U.S.A  since 1866, one hundred fifty-two years ago.  The next viewing will occur on January 31, 2037 and will be visible in the United Kingdom, Europe, North America, Asia, Australia and parts of Africa.

Professional and amateur photographers alike were out to capture this celestial phenomena to share with the world and some, for personal memory.   I did take some shots but first, wanted to make a comparison of the cameras that are available to record history.  The one immediately below is not one I own but one that others may use to get some great shots full of detail and telescopic dimension. 

a 'big gun' camera - not mine!

This is my little 'big gun' camera with a built-in 42x telescopic lens. I do not claim to be a professional or semi-pro photographer with the equipping of a high-powered DSLR with all kinds of accessories for a precision photo.   I lack the patience to change lenses necessary for a particular image.  Since I 'shoot on the fly' (while in motion) and in spontaneity, I find this simple compact camera works for me. 

A little 'big gun' camera - mine!

The night sky was cloudy and the moon drifted in and out from behind the clouds on the evening of January 30th.  I was happy to snap these photos even though it was the night before the actual occurrence of the Super Blue Blood Moon. On the morning of the 31st, before 5:00 a.m over eastern Oregon skies, much to my disappointment, the cloud cover was so thick it obscured visibility of the eclipse and resulting blood moon.

Here are a few facts about the Super Blue Blood Moon to remember when it comes around to this part of the world for viewing once again.  This combination will not take place until January 31, 2037 and that is 19 years into the future from this present year....
                   -  Super-moon - when the orbiting body is closest to the earth 
                   -  Lunar Eclipse - when the moon passes into earth's shadow
                   -  Blood-moon - the whitish moon becomes red or ruddy brown when in full eclipse
                   -  Blue-moon - when two full moons happen in the same month

The Universe is unending in its mystery.  As cosmology in astronomy and astrophysics expand in knowledge, the more unending it becomes.  God, as Creator and in His infinity, is endless as well.  He is beyond our human comprehension - we learn in part but not fully in our human capacity of understanding.  It is only when we see Him face to face that the veil will be removed.  He is all in all.  Psalm 191 says.... "The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands".

Until we meet again at The Turn-Up Patch in two weeks on Monday, February 26....