“Don't be wishing you were someplace else or with someone else. Where you are right now is God's place for you. (1 Corinthians 7:17 MSG)
I love taking pictures of ordinary moments--sunlight illuminating a farm pond, a man with his dog, wildflowers swaying in the breeze, knee-high corn, apples on a tree, a mom jogging while she pushes a stroller, a red-capped woodpecker with a worm in its beak, a smiling friend, my dog as she sleeps by my feet, my husband and son playing their guitars...
Commonplace incidents often go unnoticed and unappreciated. However, since cell phone cameras are usually handy these days, capturing these moments takes very little effort or premeditation. It’s just a matter of paying attention and being amazed by the marvels around us.
When we are visiting faraway places, we are always on the lookout for wonderful moments and images. Yet, we frequently trip over miracles closer to home. Contentment is a treasure that must be uncovered within ourselves; it cannot be found in exotic places or exciting encounters. We can be awed by everyday health, providence, quietness, clarity, love, beauty, comfort, stability, security, and peace. There is magic in the mundane. The ability to recognize this is a blessing. This gift, like a seed, must be cultivated in order for it to develop fully. Train your eyes to seek out the miraculous. Conscientiously scan your life for God’s benevolence. Exult in the prevalent wonders that surround you.
“Blest, who can unconcernedly find
Hours, days, and years slide soft away,
In health of body, peace of mind,
Quiet by day.”
(“Ode on Solitude” by Alexander Pope)
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