This morning it all hit home.  I was in my office watching numerous slide shows I will share in an upcoming slide show production workshop.   Earlier I had been answered countless emails and blog post comments with wonderful, warm, wishes for my birthday, my life, and the ministry.  I was overwhelmed with wonderful thoughts, and the security of knowing I have real friends, and then…. I showed the original show from America From 500 Feet, the book project I did with my son Wesley, ……. that broke the dam

 

All those great memories came flooding back of the incredible time I had doing this 14 month long project while driving 123,000 miles across America with Wes.  If all that was not enough Josh Groban’s wonderful rendition of  You Raised Me Up threw me over the edge.  I sat at my desk looking at the images, thinking about the wonderful comments, replaying the great weekend with Sherelene,  the fantastic visit with Homer, Jim, Nick, Jody, Kendall,  and friends at Photo Expo, and it all came to rest, squarely in the middle of my heart!!  I’ve been blessed beyond measure, far, far, far, more than I could ever deserve, or could have ever earned!

 

I can’t thank you enough for your kind words, and wonderful sentiments about His Light.  I’m married to the most wonderful woman, she’s far more than I deserve.  I have the best brothers and sisters in Christ, dear friends, great associates, and have lived a life many could only dream of, and in a few months will be a free moral agent to pursue my hearts desires, tempered only by God’s preeminent will, and my life with Sherelene!  Then the phone rang, and Chuck Summers reminded me of our lunch today, the blessings continue to flow!

 

As I watched the show over and over and let the words of this great song sink  in, I could do nothing but praise my Heavenly Father for the countless gifts He has given to me.  If you can get a copy of this on iTunes, please do, but for now here are the lyrics.

 

Once again thanks for your warm words, and encouragement!

 

In Him,

 

the pilgrim

 

The shot above was made at Churchill Downs as the trainers were exercising the horses before the Kentucky Derby, they run with such sheer joy and exhilaration, like we should in service to Him!

 

“You Raise Me Up”

 

 

 

 

 

Today is my last day at 66!  Well 66 years of age, tomorrow I turn 67!  It is a milestone of sorts forme as my father died at the age of 66 and for many years, I’ve felt I wouldn’t last any longer than that myself, so if I make it until 6:00 a.m. tomorrow morning I’ve made it!  Tonight at 9:00 p[.m. my dear friend Jim Sugar will turn the page to 67!  I love calling him and telling him I’m sure glad I’m not as old as him!

 

I hope I’ve grown older with grace, I hope I’ve grown wiser with age, more gentle in how I treat others, and I hope others understand that while I’m whiter around the beard, the fire for life still burns intensely  in my heart and spirit.  None of us knows how long we will be here, but I know however I am I’ll give it all I have for Him…..

 

Blessings,

 

the pilgrim

 

Just so happened that 66 was my football number in High School!

I’m starting to love anything that reminds me of the past, my past, a country from years past…  Why? Who knows??!!  I’ve got a theory and I know, you know, I will share it.  First, I think the older you get the more you reminisce about the glorious past, it  might not have been that glorious, but it sure feels that way when you recall, “the good old days”.    I also have a great appreciation for what men and women used to with their hands, what they created!  I also have always been somewhat of history buff, and this gives me a chance to learn about things I did not know a great deal about.

 

 

So how has this changed me as a photographer?  Actually I’m drawn to and enjoy a lot more diverse set of subjects than in the past.  I love Old Car City, and Shaker Village, and the Train museum, and old airplanes, all kinds of things that are steeped in history and built with character, even when they are rusting or falling down!

 

I an also liking the simple pleasure of taking a compact camera and just exploring, cutting back on the weight of my system and going back to looking of images and trying to get the best I can with less in the way of gear.  I think I’m making another fundamental swing in my work, I’m excited and can’t wait to follow this path!

 

Change is good.  Change can help you see more clearly, and enjoy life with a renewed sense of excitement, it’s a good place to be, and it’s where I am right now.  Thank you Jesus!  Life truly is good!

 

Blessings,

 

the pilgrim

 

Old brick wall painting in Norfolk, Virginia, Compact camera.

 

Weaving is a method of fabric production in which two distinct sets of yarns or threads are interlaced at right angles to form a fabric or cloth.

 

The purpose of weaving is to produce a cloth with added strength and utility.  Another major result is often beautiful cloth for clothing, upholstery, and other uses.  The best properties of the various threads when woven together produce something so much more  than just the individual threads.

 

God does much the same with us.  He takes individuals, all different, all unique and then combines them to do His work.  And what is His work?  To bring us to Him.  To reach out to the lost and, with open loving arms, welcome them in.  How amazing it is that God loves us so much, in spite of what we are, what we’ve done, He still invested everything in us.

 

So what are we to do?  What do you do when someone asks you to come to their home for dinner, or to come to their party.  We accept,  How much more honored should we feel  of course, and we appreciate that someone cared enough to ask us to come to their home!  How much more honored should we be that the God of the Universe wants, you so much that He gave the most valuable thing He ever had, His Son, to be able to make that offer to you and I.

 

Accept the offer and let Him weave you into His Master Plan!

 

the pilgrim