Monthly Archives: June 2013

Anyone who has seen many of my images has seen a lot of various Coca Cola signs and stuff related to the king of colas.  Why do I have such a love for Coca Cola?  When I was a little boy back in Harlan, Kentucky, my father was the manager of the local Coca Cola plant.  All through out my youth my Dad would bring home boxes of the kinds of Coca Cola stuff that was commonly given away as gifts, Coca Cola pencils, bottle openers, ice picks, playing cards, drinking glasses, serving tays, and tons of other items of the long past, in fact when Coke sold for 5 cents.  Many years later when I was “all growd up” as Bruce Willis is fond to say, I was in Atlanta and saw a shop specializing in  the sale of Coca Cola memorabilia.

 

I was shocked at the price they were asking of things that were all too common to me.  I picked up a Coca Cola knife which was priced at $29.  I asked if people really would pay that much for a Coca Cola knife??!!  He said that most of what he had were “reproductions’ of the original items. He went on to say that the real memorabilia went for a lot more, the knives for instance has sold for as much as a hundred dollars.  Now my mind was on a roll, back in my Mom’s garage closet, Dad had gone to be with the Lord, were dozens of boxes all filled with “original such times, hundreds of them!

 

I’ll cut to the chase, I went to a phone and called Mom and asked if we still had all the stuff Dad had in the garage closet. She said she had gotten tired of having to move all those boxes to get to things, and had the garbage men carry them all away!  For a short time, I calculated and re-calculated the potential loss, then it dawned on me, I didn’t loose anything.  I had a lot of great years with a loving father, got to use some great Coca Cola pencils, and drank my coke from Coca Cola glasses!  I had a loving father that loved to bring all that stuff home so he could give it to kids in the neighborhood, or friends that dropped by to visit, something people did back then!!!  When I look back on growing up in Harlan, I remember relatives that seemed to always be at the house, big family picnics, hanging out with friends, riding our bicycles all over the hill we lived on, and sleigh riding on winter days!  Maybe the real treasure of being my Dad’s son, and my brother’s brother was just the life we lived.  What would I have done with a half million dollars anyway!

 

Blessings,

 

the pilgrim

Every adventure starts with opening the door.  Opening a door to leave home, opening a door to enter the airport, opening a door to get on the plane, opening a door to enter into the adventure!  The most important door is to opening your heart, mind, and spirit to truly embrace the adventure!  I encourage people that are starting and adventure to prepare by believing in the possibilities that will present themselves.  Opportunities to learn, laugh, make new friends, embrace old friendships, it’s all part of the adventure.

 

Of course I’m thinking about the next His Light adventure that starts Friday and we all will fly and drive in to Spokane from all over the country so we can experience the grand adventure together.  You may not be with us, but every day is your next grand adventure, and you should embrace it!  Life is what we make of it, and a joyful expectation is vital part of making it all it can be.

 

I’m excited about what God is going to do on this trip, but then I’m excited about what God is going to do tomorrow too!  A God that loves me so much that He has already blessed me so mightily, how could I not be excited!  Guess what, He loves you that much too!!!!!  Get excited!!!

 

Blessings,

 

the pilgrim

Ever find yourself just looking for  friendly face?  I imagine we all have times we miss some good fellowship!  I think that is one of the reasons I’m so looking forward to running workshops in retirement and next week!!  I love photography and being in beautiful places in great conditions, but honestly I love standing around with great friends and enjoying the moment even more.  In the 11 years I ran the Great American Photography Weekends I was on the road over 200 days a year, drove over  70,000 miles a year, and was in every major National Park at least 25 times!  I don’t really need to see the parks again, but I love a new crop of great people to share them with.  It is a real thrill to see others see these magical places for the first time, it brings back all the joy for me too!

 

His Light was never about going to incredible places again for me, it was about seeing Jim enjoy his first visit to my special places, and sharing that joy with our Guests.  It is a business, and we do make some profit, but Jim and I see it much more as a ministry, and opportunity to share His love with those that join us in the field.  I am really excited about seeing everyone in Spokane Saturday afternoon, and I know these locations are going to blow them away!  You never know what the weather will be, or the conditions, but I do know one thing for sure, when Jim, Matt, and I and the His Light team walk into the room, they will see some friendly faces!

 

Blessings,

 

the pilgrim

 

Image:  Shot along the road just outside of Mount Rainier!